The You God Sees ...

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places …” (Ephesians 1:3)

“Blessed … blessed … blessing.” What is this “blessedness?”

Dallas Willard explains that it is “the highest state of well-being we humans can experience.” The Greeks used the term to describe the “blissful existence of their gods.” “Bliss, the dictionary says, is “complete happiness;” the conditions you’d expect to find in “Paradise.”

Paul, Christ’s Ambassador to the 1st Century Roman World, is the writer of this letter “to the Ephesians.” He’s obviously ecstatic. We might think he’s having a good day. It seems a bit overstated. Certainly life as we know it has its moments of “bliss.” But “every” form of “complete happiness”?

Actually Paul’s in prison as he writes this. He’s under “house arrest” in Rome. There are Roman soldiers guarding him. Some historians suggest that he may have been chained to one of the soldiers. He’s allowed to receive visitors. He can go about his work as a Preacher and Writer. But his future is precarious. Things aren’t going well for Christians in Rome. Still Paul sees himself in a completely different light. He sees himself as God sees him. He knows our “Lord, Jesus Christ” is now resident in “the Heavenly places.” The Son of Man, who conquered “death,” and the “evil forces” who’d been bent on His destruction, is now reunited with Father God. The “joy” His conquest acquired is now His reality and the certain experience of everyone who trusts Him.

Paul knows this. His faith assures him that no present circumstance, grim though it may be, can alter his spiritual, heavenly condition. Christ has demonstrated that you can be dying the most barbaric death in human history and winning your greatest battle at the same time. He who “for the Joy offered Him, endured the Cross, ignoring the momentary disgrace,” has proven that true “Joy” is certain for those who follow Him.” (See Hebrews 12:2)

Paul a soon to be executed prisoner in Rome; you in the midst of your ordinary day-to-day life; are, as God sees it, residents of “the Heavenly places.” Nothing can take away your “Joy.” You are “well.” For you “every kind of thing is very well.”