The Mystery of Unity

Scripture: In Him we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished on us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, which are in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 1:7-10

Observation: Paul introduces his letter to the Ephesians by praising God for his greatness, his love, and his mercy all manifested through the life and sacrifice of Jesus. It is by this act of sacrifice and the resulting grace and forgiveness through faith, Paul states, that God has revealed the "mystery of his will." That mystery is, and always was, to unite all things in heaven and on earth in Christ.

In other words, it is by the sacrifice and Jesus, bringing mercy and forgiveness into the broken world, that heaven and earth - and all things on earth, from people, to nature - are restored as a unified creation.

Application: I am struck by the irony that "religion" is so often a divisive instrument in the world, when faith is actually God's plan for unity. How can this be? Clearly, this is the work of Satan, the great liar, who introduces three lies into conversation.

The first lie is that faith in Jesus has right and wrong attributes. While there are teachings of Jesus to learn, the act of faith itself does not have behavioral qualities. However, this lie is believed by both believers and non-believers, and creates divisions across all boundaries. The second lie is that faith in Jesus is, in fact, a religious alternative. Everyone buys this, though some just because it is easier to use a label like 'religion' as a label in conversation. Faith in Jesus is not a religious system. However, when people believe it to be a religion, is becomes one of many belief-system choices.

These first two lies are intended to create or maintain division, fighting against unity. The third lie, however, is to cover up the idea that there is any division in the first place. This lie declares that mankind is just part of the natural order - a natural order that wasn't created by God in the first place - and thus any division that exists is not a spiritual breaking from God, but rather is an act learned by intelligent and evolved beings that requires greater intelligence and enlightenment to overcome.

Paul's lesson is simple ... the sacrifice of Jesus reveals God's plan for reunification of all mankind with himself and with his perfect plan for all creation. This understanding is true enlightenment - that the creator of the universe wishes to remain connected to his creation.

Prayer: Lord, may I live into your mysterious plan. I see faith and hope as the unifying power of the world. Help us to not create divisions, but to strive to achieve that unity on earth, as their is in heaven. Amen.