RAISED INTO HEAVENLY REALMS

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7, NKJV)

Devotion 8 of 16

THE GRAND DISJUNCTIVE

    "BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses . . . "

      A disjunctive is a word that joins two opposites. In our text, the disjunctive is "BUT," and the opposites are "dead in trespasses and sins" and the "great love" of God, who is rich in mercy. No one but a great God could have "great love" upon those who were "by nature the children of wrath," and in whom "the prince of the power of the air" was at work.

      Because of who He is, His rich mercy, and profound love for "us" God reached into the abysmal depths we occupied. It was no small effort, and involved sending His "only begotten Son into the world." The Son, volunteering for the mission of mercy (Heb 10:5-10), laid aside the prerogatives of Deity, emptying Himself, and entered into the realm of hostility and death with a sheathed sword and a frail frame (Phil 2:6-8). His entrance into the graveyard of humanity constituted the first appearance of "the grace of God which brings salvation" (Tit 2:11). That is when "the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared" (Tit 3:4).  

    The Lord had "looked," so to speak, to see if there was any who could assist in the recovery of fallen humanity. As He surveyed the entirety of the race, He found "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (Psa 49:7). When it came to the reclamation of mankind, there was a staggering impotence that dominated the offspring of Adam. They were all "without strength" (Rom 5:6).

      However, the Lord was not dismayed by the circumstance. Speaking of the situation, Isaiah prophesied the matter declared in our text. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury, it upheld me" (Isa 63:5). By Himself He wrought the salvation for men and decimated the powers of darkness by His own power.

    The phrase "rich in mercy" describes salvation from a general viewpoint, showing that it took an abundance of mercy and a willing God to save us. "Mercy" involves compassion, pity, and sympathy. It is kindness and goodwill toward miserable and afflicted people. Mercy is also wrapped with the chord of faithfulness. It is not sporadic or inconsistent. The Living God not only has the capacity and ability to lavish His mercy upon men, He has an inclination to do so. Our new birth was "according to His ABUNDANT mercy" (1 Pet 1:3). The point at which we were changed was the point where abundant mercy was lavished upon us. His mercy is also "tender," assuring that the frail creatures who receive it will nt be harmed (James 5:11).

    This is the grand disjunctive: "BUT GOD!" It is what turned things around, ushered hope into the world, and announced the doom of "the prince of the power of the air." It is the line of demarcation in history, when futility was toppled from the throne by faith and hope.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for intruding into history with the blessing of salvation!

-- Tomorrow: PLOWMEN AND REAPERS --