RAISED INTO HEAVENLY REALMS

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7, NKJV)

Devotion 13 of 16

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENT

    God has always stressed the environment in which closeness to Him is realized, and communication is made. When He created the world, perfect and flawless, and good in every way, He chose a garden in which to place man, for fellowship and responsibility.

    When He commanded Abraham to offer Isaac, it was to be done in a special place in the land of Moriah, "upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Gen 22:2).

    When He tutored men in matters pertaining to God, He chose a tabernacle in which service was to be done. Within the confines of this sacred citadel, righteous decisions were made, and Divine communications were experienced. He also had a Most Holy Place where atonement was made. The place made a difference!

    When God cultured a people in His ways and commandments, He removed them from other lands, giving them one of their own. Within that land, He chose a specific city, Jerusalem, and placed His name there. It was the place of the Temple, and the High Priest, and the Divine service. When He summoned the people to gather with singular devotion to Him, there were specific places to which they were gathered. The place made a difference.

    Even the ministry of the Lord Jesus was noted for special places. It is said of Him, "And in the day time He was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives" (Lk 21:37). There was a garden over the brook Kidron where Jesus often spent time with God. It is written, "Jesus often met there with His disciples" (John 18:2). The place made a difference.

In This Day of Salvation

    In this "day of salvation," the place to be occupied has been elevated. This is because sin has been removed, the devil destroyed, principalities and powers plundered, and the door of access to God and grace opened. The "heavenly places" are where we are placed upon entrance into Christ. We are "made to sit" there, or placed there by God Himself. This is what gives us the advantage in life. Furthermore, there is no possibility of pleasing God or doing His will outside of this realm. That is why we have been placed there.

    Every spiritual benefit is realized here. All inner strength is administered here. The blessings of the covenant are mediated to us by the glorified Christ in these places. These are the realms where we can "draw near" to the Lord with a true heart, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb 10:22). There are NO spiritual benefits beyond the circumference of the "heavenly places."  Faith cannot survive outside of this domain.

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus Christ for providing a place for communion, instruction, comfort, and strengthening.

-- Tomorrow: THE GREATER SIN --