“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
Ephesians 1:3
Today’s passage, like many in the Bible, sounds very positive and encouraging, even though its full meaning is somewhat obscure. Being blessed with every spiritual blessing the heaving places certainly sounds wonderful, but what exactly are these spiritual blessings? Though the full extent of God’s promise to us may not be realized until rapture and glorification, the Bible does provide at least some information concerning our spiritual blessings in the heavens. To begin with, that is where our citizenship is (Philippians 3:20). We are strangers and pilgrims here on earth (1 Peter 2:11), but our names are written in heaven. Jesus reminded His disciples that this was a fact worth rejoicing over (Luke 10:20). Material possessions in this world are vanishing away, but our eternal rewards are reserved in heaven for us (Matthew 6:20; 1 Peter 1:3-4). Heaven has a capital city, the New Jerusalem, which is stunning in size and beauty (Revelation 21). It is the city the great patriarch Abraham was longing for (Hebrews 11:8-10). Among its many dwelling places, there are mansions for you and me (John 14:2). The Lord’s intercessory ministry for us is yet another unspeakably great and mysterious heavenly blessing. At this very moment, the Lord Jesus is acting as our Advocate, representing us and defending us to His Father against Satan’s accusations (1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 12:7-10). Another of the many marvellous benefits of Christ’s redemptive work is our own access to the Good Father through prayer (Hebrews 4:16). This heavenly blessing is positively staggering in its value and significance. There were many warnings and prohibitions in the Old Testament against presuming into the presence of a Holy God. Attempting to approach Him on anything but His terms meant instant death (Exodus 19:21). Today things are different for God’s people, the church. One of the greatest heavenly blessings of all in the present dispensation is the New Testament invitation to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). At any moment the born-again child of God can reach out to his Heavenly Father in prayer and he can rest assured that his prayers are heard. Praise be to our Blessed Saviour for bestowing such heavenly blessings upon us.
May God bless and encourage you with these truths today,
Pastor John
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