‘That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” Ephesians 1:10 (KJV)
I remember when I first started raising chickens. In the morning I would open up their henhouse and the little fenced-in yard and would let them run in the tall grass outside. They would scatter to the 4 winds and have the best time.
Later, I would try to encourage them to return to the safety of their pen and house, but they would have none of it. People would tell me not to worry, they said that as it grew dark they would return to their roost. Didn’t happen. It would take the entire family “shooing” and flapping arms to get them back in. It continued day after day, and in all of our frustration we decided it was easier not to let them out.
Gathering my little flock was more of an exercise in futility than anything. I wanted to protect them, keep them warm and safe, and give them the food and water they needed to grow and multiply. They wanted freedom – dangerous and exciting freedom.
In Ephesians 1:9-10, God says that He is revealing the mystery so that all He has chosen will know to “gather” together, both Jew and Gentile, both living and those who have passed on to Heaven before us – for His Pleasure. Gathering at a specified time, of which only He is aware.
The Mystery revealed that there would be a dispensation, a breaking of the Old Testament laws, an immunity for those Gentiles with a heart toward God, as big and as genuine as any Jew born into the right of the inheritance. What a blessing for you and I, for now we can receive all of the promises and encouragement from the Old Testament. We have become joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), we receive a fully equal inheritance (Acts 20:32), being made acceptable by the mystery revealed to all through the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:16).
When the spiritual calls of the Saints have been completed and the time is right, the fullness of time, God will speak to every righteous heart, both dead and alive, and they will gather unto Him for the final gift; the gift of knowing that they are completely and irrevocably His, into eternity. Holy, Holy, Holy!
Oh, my Jesus, gather us to Your side as a father to his children. Let us accept Your treasured gift and not feel unworthy or torn away by seducing freedom. May we understand our value in You, in all of our brokenness, and gather together at Your feet in worship.
**A Journey through Ephesians – Chapter 1, Part 6
Written by Linda J. Humes
8-24-14
Linda J. Humes 