The Fulness of Time

Ephesians1:3-11

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.”

This is an amazing portion of Scripture that should encourage us in the day in which we live. When I think of the words “the fullness of time,” I see an hour glass where most of the sand of time has flowed through the neck, so that the top half is almost empty and the bottom half is almost full. When you see that happening in an hour glass, it is usually calling you to action. Most often, it is indicating the completion of something. The food is almost done or a job is almost finished. As we observe what is going on around us, I believe we live in the fullness of time. The hour glass of this dispensation is coming to a close.

Paul’s words are encouraging to us as we see time running out. God set this plan of His in motion before the foundation of the world, and we are an important part of this plan. In fact, He has set us up for success. The God of the universe chose us and then redeemed us from sin and death by Christ’s blood. Not only that, but He has blessed us or, more accurately, lavished us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. That means all the favor that heaven has toward Christ is ours. You are highly favored not because of your performance but because you have been accepted in the Beloved.

Because of Christ, we have been adopted as children of God. This word “adopted” does not just mean we have come into the family of God, but it actually means that we have come into our full inheritance, that we are joint heirs with everything that is Christ’s. We are full partners in the kingdom. As part of this inheritance, he has lavished on us the riches of His grace or divine favor and enablement. Part of this divine enablement is wisdom and insight into the mystery of His will. God by His Spirit wants to reveal to us His plan so that we partner with Him in His glorious plans. It is not our will and plans, but what He has purposed since the foundation of the world. It is not time to be afraid or to draw back, but to come into the board room of the Chief Architect and CEO of all things. It is time to discern the voice of God and to be atuned to the Spirit.

This is the most exciting time to be alive, when He who purposes all things according to the good pleasure of His will, is bringing His eternal plan to fruition that in the fullness of time He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. To Him be all glory and power forever and ever, Amen!

Andy