By Erik Dewar, pastor of worship and music

During a global pandemic, we are suddenly reminded of eternal things.

A threat to temporal existence begs questions of an everlasting one.

Paul’s opening words in his letter to the Ephesians lift us to a lofty view of the purposes of God’s grace which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time.

God’s purposes are eternal. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our eternal inheritance.

When Christians look back, they see grace.

When they look ahead, more grace.

In this moment of trouble, may we confidently remember that in Christ the grace of the eternal God has been lavished upon us.

To the praise of his glorious grace.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.