THE WONDER OF GOD’S CHOICE FOR US
By Lay Pastor Jusak Pundiono
Lemah Putro, Sunday, February 4, 2018
Shalom,
The number of Miss Universe contestants has been on the increase from year to year despite the ever tighter selections involving various complicated tests. Only one of the participants is singled out to be the winner. Typically, the winning contestant expresses wide-eyed excitement in disbelief as the crown is placed on her head. Often times, being emotionally overwhelmed, the newly crowned winner bursts into tears. Her Miss Universe title does not last forever, though. After a year, she will have to hand over her crown to the next winner.
In fact, the selection of a winner of any sort of competition in this world does not last for a long time. By contrast, God’s choice for us is of eternal value, surpassing any “surprise” in whatever form that any contest winner has ever obtained on this planet Earth.
Ephesians 1: 3-4 expose the work of the Triune God in our lives. It is worth noting that the Triune God dependently work together. Take a child for example. In his growing stage, a child depends on his parents. The older he is, the more independent he becomes and the more capable and greater he feels. At this point, his ego is growing stronger until he reaches his maturity when he and his parents depend on one another. And so is the inter-relationship among the Triune God. God the Father is not greater than the Son and the Son is not greater than the Holy Spirit. They depend on one another.
We are studying Ephesians 1: 3-14 which explain the significance of praising God (vv. 3, 6, 12 and 14) because His work is wonderful, among others, His choice for us – “For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.” (v.4)
What kind of supernatural wonder did He perform when He chose us?
God chose us in Christ.
As God blessed us with spiritual blessings in Christ, He also chose us in Christ.
In the Letter to the Ephesians, the phrase “in Jesus Christ” (v.1) is written 14 times. The preposition “in” denotes a place; the phrase “in Christ” implies that Christ is the One and only place where believers should put themselves.
What was the condition of Ephesus like at the time? This city, the second biggest after Rome, was awe-inspiring. It was a business center with its four intercity roads connecting one metropolis to another. Ephesus was a political as well as cultural hub of the country with its most majestic shrine. History has it that the Diana/Artemis Shrine was one of the ancient seven world’s wonders – the prideworthy landmark of the Ephesians.
On top of that, Ephesus was a Roman depot of wealth/luxury in Asia Minor. In addition to private properties, the places where the Asian and Roman noblemen deposited their riches reflected the
financial welfares of the city’s residents. When they believed in Jesus, they burned up their magic books valued at fifty thousand silver coins (Acts 19: 19) worth 50,000 day’s wages. Acoording to the Bible dictionary, one Greek silver coin/dirham is equal to one dinarii (a day’s wage).
What kind of business should we run to keep on turning a profit or harvesting cash? Which political party should we opt for to stay secure and channel our aspirations? How many billions or trillions of rupiahs should be enough to deposit in the bank in order to supply our big families’ needs? How high should our scocial status be or what should we have to take pride in to gain public respect? The Apostle Paul stressed that the Ephesians (and we) should put ourselves only in Jesus Christ rather than anything else we can rely on. Being in Jesus managed to tip over the pride of the Ephesians (and ours as well).
What do we gain from putting ourselves in Jesus Christ?
- In Jesus Christ spring grace and peace. God chose us to be the agents of His grace and peace (v. 2).
- In Jesus Christ is where heavenly blessings are found. God chose us not to deal with earthly matters but to shift our attention to the things above where Jesus is (v. 3). Do not take the example of the rich young man who turned down Jesus’ offer – following Him and leaving his riches behind (Matthew 19: 21-22). Rather, follow in the footsteps of the old Nicodemus who humbled and put himself in Jesus (John 3: 1-5).
- In Jesus Christ who redeemed us with His blood, God chose us to be the agents of peace/ forgiveness among men and between men and God (v. 7).
- In Jesus Christ is the Head that unites all things in heaven and on earth. God chose us to be the agents of unity in regard to relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters, among members of the ministry, among ministries, etc.
God chose us prior to the creation of the world
We were created before the foundation of the world. What kind of people are expected to inhabit the world? In the beginning, the created world was in tip-top condition (Greek: Tov, meaning, good). It was perfect in the eyes of the Triune God. He chose man to live in the superb world, to enjoy the day of rest (Sabath) and to delight in an intimate relationship with the Triune God – Adam-Eve used to hear the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden (Genesis 1: 31 - 2: 3,7,8).
However, after man’s first sin, each of us has nurtured a wicked heart since childhood. We have done countless evil things ever since (Genesis 8: 21). Consequently, our wickedness has distorted the configuration of the world (Exodus 6: 11-12). Stay alert. Natural disasters (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, wild fires, landslides, etc.) have been running amok and shuddering the earth because:
God wants us to populate His superb (tov) world someday.
God wants us to experience His sabath every time someday.
God wants us to delight in our relationship with Him someday.
Where and when? He will someday create a new heaven and earth, namely, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven (Revelation 20: 11; 21: 1-6).
God chose us only for Himself
The verb ”choose/take” (Greek: eklegomai) is a medial verb. This means that the action indicated by the verb impacts the subject/the doer.
If God chooses us, His choice for us will have an impact on Him, that is to say:
o We will be holy without blemish,reflecting His holiness without blemish through our lives. He is not to blame for His working system and the final result. He is, therefore, worthy of praise. In reality, more and more people point the finger at Him in regard to LGBT cases and human misery issues.
o We become holy without blemish thanks to our togetherness. Likewise, God the Father works together with God the Son (Christ ); God the Father chose us in Christ. So, if we are together with God the Father in Christ, it won’t be impossible for us to live a holy life without blemish. Because God’s action has an impact on Himself.
Please note that we become holy without blemish before God in His agape love. With this in mind, we are to love one another more and more. And this also applies to husbands and wives who are to love each other with agape love.
Bear in mind that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will never get holy! They are just putting it on and are quick to judge others like someone who sees the speck in another’s eye, but fails to see the beam of wood in his own.
Who are we that God was so mindful of us and that even His choice fell on us before the creation of the world? What did He choose us for? For nothing else but the praise and glory of His name. Let’s pay respect to His choice by living a holy life since the sanctifying blood of Christ is so priceless. Apart from that, let’s live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit until one day we live in the New Jerusalem to take great delight in the rest together with Him forever and ever. Amen.