Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV)
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.
Paul returns to the theme of God’s choice and predestination. Again, as Paul wrote to the Romans (8:29), God chose those whom He foreknew would respond to the gospel, those who would choose to repent, believe in Jesus, and commit to live the rest of their lives as His people. For those people, God has had a destiny planned since before the creation of the world.
As Paul pointed out in verse 4, a part of that destiny is that they will be holy and blameless in His sight. Another facet of that destiny pointed out in verse 12 is that those who become God’s people will praise and enhance His glory among mankind.
And this destiny that God planned beforehand has an important purpose: the expansion of God’s kingdom. Those who take advantage of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus glorify God by living lives that are noticeably more upright and honest, noticeably more righteous and holy, and noticeably more blessed and hopeful than the lives of those around them who don’t yet know Jesus. Those amazing lives are designed to draw the attention of those around them (think “city on a hill” and “light on its lampstand” – Matthew 5:14-16), so that they will be open to hearing our testimony of how that kind of a life became possible for us. And through that testimony, that word of truth, they too can experience the transformation that comes from salvation, and will become members of God’s kingdom.
This is the story of the Ephesians. They heard the word of truth and Paul’s testimony, and they saw that word validated by his life and by the power that flowed through him, and they believed. And when they believed and were baptized, they received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39), the seal that marked them as belonging to God, and the guarantee that they would receive all the other things God promises to His people, including the resurrection and a place at His throne when everything is accomplished.
Father, this is very clear, and frankly very amazing. Far too many of us limit our pre-planned destiny to a place in heaven. But clearly your plan for us goes much, much further than that. We have a destiny, a calling, a job to do here and now before we ever get to heaven: to grow Your kingdom by making disciples of all nations so that those around us don’t have to end up in hell unless they choose to reject Your gospel that is so powerfully seen in our upright, holy, blessed and powerful lives, and unless they turn away from our clear testimony, freely and passionately given to them. What a privilege to have such an important role to play in Your kingdom, to have such a powerful destiny that You have prepared for us. Amen.