Have you ever been looking for something diligently, only to discover it was right before your eyes all the time? Maybe it was your car keys, your reading glasses, or your child at the mall. Well, I want you to know your right-standing with God is lot like that…
The Bible says, “[God] has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). This is written in the past tense, meaning it has already taken place. In other words, God HAS blessed us. The interesting part of this is where He has blessed us– in heavenly places.
For years people have sung songs like “The Sweet By and By” and “Amazing Grace,” both of which speak of our heavenly home. I’m certainly looking forward to the day when “we’ve been there ten thousand years…” but the fact is, we’re not there yet. However, I want you to know that what happens in one realm (heaven) affects the other realm (earth).
In other words, if God has blessed us in heavenly places, it will show up in earthly places.
With this in mind, read carefully the following passage of scripture:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Before the foundations of the world were even created, God thought of you. He knew there would be trials in this life on earth, so He established an eternal foundation for us in the heavenly places in Christ. We can’t see it with our natural eyes, but it exists nonetheless. You may feel defeated, but as a Christian, you’re not. These temporary trials will soon pass, and what will remain is our right-standing with God.
We need to see ourselves as God sees us.
“While we do not look at the things which are seen[our mistakes, failures, shortcomings, and trials], but at the things which are not seen [our heavenly position in Christ and right-standing with God]. For the things which are seen are TEMPORARY, but the things which are not seen are ETERNAL.”
I know you can see your mistakes, but they are just a needle in the haystack compared to what you’ve received in Christ, so that’s not where your focus needs to be. Quit looking for the needle! Instead, enlarge your focus to see the bigger picture of your righteousness in Christ!
The Apostle Paul said, “Quit looking at the things which are seen!” Instead, look (meditate on) the things you can’t see with your natural eye. Things like:
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- God chose you in Him (Ephesians 1:4)
- God made you accepted in Him (Ephesians 1:5)
- Your sins are forgiven in Him (Ephesians 1:7)
And that’s just 3 verses in the first Chapter of Ephesians! How much more will you find as you study all of God’s Word concerning the spiritual blessings you’ve received in heavenly places in Christ?
