KNOWING THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING  (Ephesians 1:15-23)

At times it can be difficult to see the beauty of faith, to know why we are called to faith in Jesus Christ, and to persevere in that faith. It can be difficult, because there are so many naysayers. Nay-sayers attacking the roots of faith, trying to show the pointlessness of faith, faith is committing intellectual suicide, faith guarantees a life of failure to be ‘good enough’…

Paul prays for the Ephesians that they may receive “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” in order to come to know God better. Paul knows that the more the saints come to know God, the more they will understand the glory of the Father, the glory of Jesus Christ, and the wonderful grace offered through faith in Jesus Christ. As saints come to know God, the more their response to God is based on fact rather than doubts.

Paul also prays that the ‘eyes of the heart’ may be enlightened. This unique phrase points to an awareness that goes deeper than ‘mind debate’, but is filled out with ‘heart assurance’.

And what are we to see? 
First of all the hope to which we have been called. Here we have a specific answer for naysayers – there is a glorious inheritance that we are living for. It is promised in God’s word; the line of history is moving toward the final day. If there is no Jesus Christ, then we may as well join the naysayers, because there is little to be excited about in this world. However, knowing that Jesus Christ has come and was raised, it changes the outlook of life completely.

But not only that, when the ‘eyes of the heart’ are enlightened, they can see the great power for those who believe. The grand vision has been laid out AND the power to carry it out has been established. The very same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work in the saints, raising them from death to true life. This is not failure, but rather glory. God, through this prayer, will enable the saints to see the power that guarantees new life as surely as the Son of God was raised to life.

The response to naysaying, from outside or from within our own mind, is to pray for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding so that we may know God better. Then we would know that the naysaying is ridiculous, because we know the truth about God. When we are enlightened, we see the real hope that is ours, and we recognize the power that guarantees that hope. This is something to be thankful for. Jesus Christ is reigning because of that power.