God's plan is Jesus

The Chronicles of Narnia:

Challenges us to have faith in the battles of life, that moral transformation is possible and that anyone can find redemption from evil. A perfect way exists and its worth all of our suffering and sacrifice. Evil is real, and we must fight against it. The Lion of creation fights for us, and when our fighting concludes, we will be welcomed as family into Aslan’s country, a place of perfect fulfillment, absent of all pain and sorrow.

These books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide, one of the best selling series of all-time.

Its Christian themes are known and debated.

His Dark Materials:

A series put forward as a non-Christian alternative to the CofN.

Philip Pullman’s intention was to create a fantasy narrative that challenges traditional religious beliefs and explores themes of free will, consciousness, and the nature of good and evil.

“The Golden Compass” presents a secular alternative, a comparative failure.

John 6:68 “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”

Lay aside the high theology and consider our practical, human experience.

Homing instinct brings the female loggerhead turtle over 1,200 miles to its nesting beach.

The hatchling turtle at birth, has an inborn orientation toward the ocean.

They would not survive without this orientation

Soft sand instead of hard surface, toward sound of waves, toward the bright light, avoid shadows/darkness

We have a homing instinct, calling us to the light.

We do not long for the ocean. We long for Eden.

The exile and message of Genesis 3.15 is the substance of our longing.

It fills all the Bible, as in 1 John, so here in Ephesians.

1 John 3:10 “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

Message

Remember where you stand now, blessed yet still navigating a world full of challenges (1.1-2).

Truth conveyed by Jesus’ ambassadors (apostle)

You are holy (saints) - you are not the same - different allegiance (faith)

Defined by grace and peace with God, holding to Jesus.

In the beginning, God’s plan was to make you ready to return to His presence (1.3-6).

For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19.10 ASV)

“Holy and blameless” - again (1.4)

“In love, planned to make more sons” - (1.5)

“Blessed in the one he loves” (1.6) - Gen.12.1 - bless all nations

You now see that the plan involved King Jesus choosing to die, as a husband for his wife (1.7-10).

“In him” (1.7)

“Redemption through his blood” - “Forgiveness”

“Lavished grace upon us” (1.8) - abounding with leftovers

“made known the mystery which is the plan working in Jesus” (1.9)

“to bring heaven and earth back together, like Eden” (1.10)

Seeing the extent to which you are loved, you now posses the thing for which you yearned (1.11-12).

(1.3) - all spiritual blessings

We have an “inheritance” - back in eden (1.11)

“in him...” (1.11, 13)

“to the praise of his glory” - praise that he is the one true God. [what outlives a hero, glory] (1.12)

Treasure the time His Spirit is with you, as you wait for the day you'll be with Him completely, in spirit and body (1.13-14).

We treasure Him by giving allegiance to the Spirit’s teaching. [sealed, authenticated] (1.12)

“Doesn’t feel like Eden”

We have only the down payment (first installment) (1.13)

Conclusion

The day is coming, when with our bodies and spirits we will dwell with God.

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

For those who:

Accept His teaching, not their own reasoning.

Run to Jesus and totally depend on him for their salvation.

Keep communion with His Spirit as they await his return.

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

Follow the divine homing instinct with you. God is not far.