Devotion for Wednesday, 18 May 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Wednesday, 18 May 2011 Anno Domini

“1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:1-10)

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” There survives in Haiti a strong belief in Zombies. The tales I was told, as truth, relate how the Ton-ton Makut travels from village to village with a satchel of drugs taken from a deadly fish. Given in small amounts, the drug causes the subject to become as dead – clammy skin, not detectable heartbeat or breath. The family buries the victim who is, later in the darkness, disinterred and given a mild antidote. He revives, but is given small doses of the drug and remains in a Zombie-like state, doing whatever his new ‘owner’ demands. Before delivering a sermon in Haiti a few years back, I was cautioned by the resident minister that there would be Voodoo priests in the congregation, so I should choose my words wisely. I preached on this text. I explained how every man who does not know Christ is walking dead. He is literally a Zombie doing the wishes of his master. Five men got up and left. I presume these to have been the Voodoo priests. The dead, indeed, walk among us. Knowing not the grace of Christ, they stumble about (as men in the darkness which they are). The death sentence has already been declared on such as walk in sin and trespasses as the above verse clearly reveals.

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” We all have suffered death as Christians. We were subject to our own “Ton-ton Makut” in the form of Satan himself. But when we put on Christ, we died to our old self – to trespasses and sins – and became new creatures in Christ with a hope of eternal life beyond the vale of these tears. This former death reigns in the soul of unrepentant sinners.

“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Yes, even as others. We were, by our very nature and kinship to our federal head, Adam, children of wrath. We inherited, in our blood, the disease of sin. We followed our lusts in every fleshly manner, and our minds, too, were corrupt with wickedness. But that was the old man in us. Now there is a new man who has been awakened through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” The great benefit of awakening to life originated in the Heart of God. We had no such thought, being dead, to help ourselves from the grave. Just as the corrupting body of Lazarus was made alive by the beckon of Christ, so are we made alive in our souls by the Voice of God calling out as “Deep unto Deep”. And we are a Communion of souls in Christ. Our thoughts are His thoughts, and our work is made like His. And, even while in the mortal frame, we sit together in heavenly places in Christ. Being “in Christ” who is in Heaven at the right hand of the Father, we sit together with Him and His Chosen in Heavenly places.

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” It is His purpose to demonstrate His surpassing Grace and Kindness toward us in all ages to come. This becomes real through the executive power of Christ.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Grace is the prime catalyst of our salvation over which we have no say. Faith is the fuel which Grace sets afire. There is no man now living, or has lived, or will live, who may earn his salvation through his own good living and deeds. It is all of Grace so that none of us may boast or hold our arrogant persons above the lost. God granted us a priceless gift. But a gift is not a gift unless it is accepted.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” When we come to Christ, we are made new – a new Creation in Him. He fashions us day by day (sanctification) to be good workers of righteousness. God has beforetime ordained that we should walk in these good works in Christ. It was decided long before you ever knew Him. In the natural state, your parents knew well before you were born that you were coming. You, on the other hand, had not the slightest idea that you would be born into the world. Your nights (they were all nights) were spent in darkness and limbo. But one hour of the morning, you were awakened to a new feeling. There was much stress and labor – something you had never experienced. And, suddenly, there was brilliant light to your darkened eyes. You had been born into life. The same is true of sinners who spend all their days in darkness and night. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit locks their heart in His grasp and draws them to Christ, and there is brilliant Light – the Light of the World! How amazing is this Grace!