READ: Ephesians 2:1-10
REFLECT: Maybe you have never watched a zombie movie, but the plots are all similar. The person is dead however they are still walking around. The rotting bodies are rather frightening. There is no life, just death. Most of the world is walking around today, just like a zombie apocalypse.
there is no cpr, no narcan, nothing that can revive a person who is spiritually dead
Without Jesus Christ, we are spiritually dead. There is no CPR, no Narcan, nothing that can revive a person who is spiritually dead. Paul sums it up well when he says to the Ephesian believers, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins …All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” (NLT) The “all” is worldwide inclusive.
before christ, i didn’t even realize i was dead
It doesn’t make a distinction between those who could be considered the nice people who don’t have Christ and the awful people who don’t have Christ. We are all inclusively dead. The ironic thing is that before Christ, I didn’t even realize I was dead. I thought I could try to breathe new life into myself by reading a self-help book, taking an anger management course, or even attend church. However, none of that would work since I was dead.
a chair that has my name on it is in heaven
It is only upon the realization, that Christ is the only One Who can breathe new life into me, that I discover that I must set aside all my efforts at self-transformation. When I hand the reigns over to Christ, then God raises believers up from the dead and “along with Christ seats us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Take a minute to think that through. The whole concept is I’ve been raised to heavenly realms (I don’t think that the Apostle Paul is referring to New Danville). Not only raised, but seated there. A chair that has my name on it is in the beautiful place of heaven. I never have to depart from that positional place of comfort. That is an extremely attractive truth.
god’s flashing arrow
Now, while I’m seated there in heaven, also picture this. Throughout all the ages God has a big flashing arrow above my chair. Paul writes about it: “God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”
nothing about obeying the rules saved me
In my apartment there is little of much value. Yet, in heaven, God considers me an example of His incredible wealth of His grace and kindness. It’s not because of the ministries I’m involved in, the amount of giving I’ve done, or all the conversations about Christ I’ve had. The humbling concept is, “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Nothing about obeying all the rules saved me. Nothing about making people happy saved me. I was absolutely dead. When God gave me new life, only He could invest His grace and kindness into me.
let the artist do their work
APPLY: What is God’s endgame plan, His salvation of individuals? “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” I don’t think anyone in their right mind considers me a masterpiece. On this earth I have a decaying body with a decaying mind. However, in God’s eternal plan, through Christ, I am His masterpiece. The best way for a masterpiece to be created is to let the artist do their work. It is daily letting Christ have access to every portion, every nook and cranny of my life so that He can do His artwork. How would you like to be a zombie no more?