Life on the Lap - Encouragement Café - April 15

Life On The Lap
By Timothy Shawn Hanauer

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ… And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:3, 2:6-7 NIV

My dad’s uncle invented the vehicle turn signal, an amazingly simple device on the steering column of a car that informs those around us of our intentions. But perhaps the most amazing invention ever added to a car is the more recent introduction of GPS. In simple terms, a screen visible to the driver is connected to a satellite 11,000 miles above the earth tracking the vehicle’s direction and position relative to roads and terrain. The software that drives this device can graphically suggest a route to a destination and give approximate times given normal road conditions. It can even suggest alternate routes if road conditions dictate a detour, and guide the driver with voice commands as each turn gets close. 

Long before GPS, all Christians have had access to this type of technology for life. Unfortunately, many never knew it existed as part of the “package” fitted to their life in Christ. The perspective we are born with is our own. Typically, when we first step into a relationship with Christ, we continue to use our personal perspective to do life. As a result, we waste time, drive around lost, and can’t seem to connect the dots as to “why I am here” and “where am I going.” 

The Apostle Paul introduces us to the amazing power fitted into the life of every believer in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians. As you read these three chapters, meditate on the perspective God has made available to you. Consider, for example, that you are already given all of the resource needed for life (Ephesians 1:3 cf. 2 Peter 1:3-9). That satellite connection is established by our relationship with Christ. Even more significant, is the fact that God has “seated” us with Christ “high above” both our situations and our enemies. Paul then, in the last three chapters of Ephesians, gives us a test drive on how to use this powerful tool in our life. Why has God given us this amazing tool with such profound perspective? He tells us in Ephesians 2:7 “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” We are “for the praise of His glory, created for good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do.”

Take the toughest situation you are facing right now. Hop up on Christ’s lap HIGH ABOVE the problem, and read Ephesians 1-3 to understand how the GPS works, and then watch how your situation is dealt with from God’s perspective in Ephesians 4-6. Adjust your course! 

Father, thank You for seating me with Christ, high above my problems and enemies. I realize that everything I need for life and godliness has already been given me through the power of Your Son’s finished work. As I hit the road in a few minutes, I look forward to hearing Your Voice speak to me from this new perspective. I know that the power to live and do Your Will is right here with me, and that even though my visual perspective is limited, Yours is universal, unlimited, and will ultimately turn my simple earthly life into praise and glory for You. 

© 2021 by Timothy Shawn Hanauer. All rights reserved.

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