Ephesians 1:1-14 - Riches for Eternity

Let'sjust review these verses before we move on.  First,we need to understand that true riches come from God. What a source ofencouragement to know that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are allworking together on our behalf to make us rich in Christ Jesus. God not onlygives us "richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17), but Hegives us eternal riches without which all other wealth is valueless. In Jesus’first recorded message on the Mount of Beatitudes He taught us, “Blessed arethe poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God…. Blessed are the meek,for they shall inherit the earth”. When we yield our lives in poverty toJesus Christ, He gives us have an inheritance in heaven. Then when we literallyyield our daily lives to Him, (that's what it means to be meek, yielded to thecontrol of God and His Holy Spirit), then we enjoy everything on earth. In a veryreal sense we have all things richly to enjoy. Butnot only does God give us richly things to enjoy on earth, He gives us eternalriches in Christ Jesus that last for eternity. Not just forever and ever.That's timewise, but for eternity and you can’t measure that. Wow, we are sorich. Over the years so many couples have come to us for counseling that are havingfinancial issues. They've spent their lives buying things. They have a nicehouse, they have expensive cars, they have all these expensive things, but thenthey lost what they really wanted and had in the early days of their marriage.They lost their love. What good is it to have an expensive house if there is nohome? Or an expensive ring if there is no love?  Myfriend, in Christ, you and I have what money can't buy. All these spiritualriches open up to us. All the wealth of God's vast creation. We enjoy the giftsbecause we know and love the Giver. Don't give up what you have in Christ forthat which you will lose. Remember the famous quote by Jim Elliot: "Heis no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannotlose".  Secondly,we learn that all these riches come from God's grace and for God's glory. Didyou notice that after each of the main sections in Ephesians 1:4-14, Paul hasadded the purpose behind these gifts? Why has God the Father chosen us, adoptedus, and accepted us? "To the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph.1:6). Why has the Son redeemed us, forgiven us, revealed God's will to us, andmade us part of God's inheritance? "That we should be to the praise of Hisglory" (Eph. 1:12). Why has God the Spirit sealed us and become theguarantee of our future blessing? "Unto the praise of His glory"(Eph. 1:14). Weoften have the idea that God saves sinners mainly because He pities them, orwants to rescue them from eternal judgment, but God's main purpose is that Hemight be glorified. His creation reveals His wisdom and power, but His churchreveals His love and grace. You cannot deserve or earn these spiritual riches;you can only receive them by grace, through faith. Thirdly,these riches are only the beginning! There is always more spiritual wealth toclaim from the Lord as we walk with Him. The Bible is our guidebook; the HolySpirit is our Teacher. As we search the Word of God, we discover more and moreof the riches we have in Christ. These riches were planned by the Father,purchased by the Son, and presented by the Spirit. There is really no need forus to live in poverty when all of God's wealth is at our disposal! Ilove the little devotional book by Charles Haddon Spurgeon called “Faith CheckBook”. A promise from the Bible is given for each day of the year, along with ashort devotional message. The author described each promise as being as good asmoney in the bank to anyone who would claim it by faith, as a person wouldwrite a check against his bank account. By faith we can claim God's promisesand draw on His limitless wealth to meet every need we may face.