God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6-7)

At times, God uses language intended to shake believers by the shoulders, so we face our new reality. 

Here the Apostle Paul tells us that God has already raised us and seated us with Christ in heaven. That hardly seems possible. My GPS indicates that I am still alive on this earth, seated at my desk in a building in a big city in the United States. How can I already be resurrected and seated in heaven?

Paul speaks in such startling terms so we understand the certainties of God’s grace. Our tendency is to base our identity on temporal realities – our locale, our sin, our shame. But present spatial dimensions or spiritual dynamics will not do. 

Living on the earth now does not deny that I am a spiritual being with heavenly citizenship already assured by Christ. I am no more a citizen of earth than I am a citizen of China when I temporarily visit there. 

My permanent home provides my identity. So also, my eternal citizenship is determined by my permanent residence in heaven. There I already have a seat with Christ, a home with God, and a destiny of eternity. 

Why does all that matter? Because neither present sin nor circumstances can undo my heavenly identity. My eternal residence marks my truest citizenship that this earthly sojourn cannot mar or remove. Jesus is mine and I am his forever!  

Prayer:

Father, I’m grateful you have already seated me with Christ. Help me not to despair over temporal sin or circumstances but to be strengthened by eternal realities!