The Great Mystery

"In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times,
that is, the summing up of all things in Christ,
things in the heavens and things on the earth."
Ephesians 1:8b-10

Lots of words!  What does it all mean?  The Bible is actually a mystery novel (non-fiction though!)  Throughout the Old Testament God makes references to the fact that even though the Old Covenant was made with a particular people, the Jews, that His Messiah would come to save all men.  It is in the histories, Isaiah, Psalms, and the prophets.  Look for it.  Words that declare that the Christ is coming and that all nations will be drawn to Him.

The great mystery of God is recorded for us in Ephesians chapter 3 verses 3-6:
     "...that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery...when you read you can                  understand my insight into the mystery of Christ...to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel..."

This was heresy and broke the pride of Israel.  From the time of Abraham they had been God's chosen.  They had been given the law.  They had been promised the Messiah.  They were the holy nation, set apart.  When Christ came, He came for all people.  No longer did the law have to be met.  It didn't matter to whom you were born, or where you were born.  Jesus came to all people including the Gentiles, but also not excluding the Jews.  He came to each individual rather than to a nation. 

"In all wisdom and [with godly] insight", this mystery had been on God's heart since before the foundations of the world was laid down.  He knew that He would have to send His own Son, that He would be killed, and that He would raise again and ascend into heaven to save all of mankind (those that were willing through faith to believe).  It was due to the "kind intentions of God's will".  God created man, He loves man, He desires that all would come to Him and be saved.  God's purpose since the beginning of time was to save mankind when the fullness of time came which was when Jesus was born. (Galatians 4:4)

The things in heaven and the things on earth includes all created matter.  God has placed all things, ultimately under the authority of Jesus Christ.  It is His.  Satan is ruling for a time, but only because God is allowing it that others might believe.  The final battle is coming!  Jesus will be the victor and all things will be His for eternity!  I am on the winning side.  I hope you are too!

Hint for the Day: Prepare your children for that day of Christ's return and the final battle.  We are given hints to what that will look like.  No matter what you believe about the end times, it is obvious that there will be hardship and hardness of hearts.  Teach your children that they must not be afraid of man, but rather God.  That God does not promise happiness and good times.  There are times when we stand only on what we know God says is true even when our circumstances don't look that way.  Faith in a jelly bean jar is easy.  Faith in the Roman arena facing the lions was not.  Build their faith not on feelings, but on the truth.  Truth will stand and God's word will stand.  Teach your children to stand.