(Christ) . . . “in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,– in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto the praise of his glory. ‘Ephesians 1:13-14 (ASV)
Over the last several years I have learned how to can. Canning is generally quite simple, but with a few very critical components – time, pressure, temperature and most importantly, seal. Without a solid seal on the lid, the precious food inside will spoil.
Back in early times, when royalty sent a letter or a message, they wanted to be sure that the receiver was assured that the message had come from them. To do so they folded the paper and melted bitumen onto the end of the paper, then used a signet ring to press their specific emblem onto the paper, sealing it closed. This was later replaced by a heavy wax and even later, envelopes with a wax seal over the closure point. The seal kept the precious message for the eyes of the receiver only. Once the seal was broken, it could not be resealed.
God‘s people used Bitumen as far back as Genesis when wanting to seal something of great importance. Noah used bitumen (also called pitch) when waterproofing the Ark (Gen 6:14). It was used to line the basket in which Moses was placed as a baby, to keep it afloat (Exodus 2:3). It was used to bind the bricks when building the Tower of Babel (well, that’s another story).
Sealing was used to place a mark of ownership and to establish where something came from and the authority with which it was sent. Sealing was a means of protection from an outside element, such as water, wind or storm. Sealing also was used to set something apart, or someone apart, protecting them from a peril of the time.
God has placed the Seal of the Holy Spirit upon all believers. This seal brings us wisdom, foreknowledge, protection from the evil one, and proof of our right to eternal life with Christ. The Seal is clearly on our foreheads, the same Seal that God placed on His son (John 6:27), is visible in the spiritual realm, marking our place (Revelation 9:4; Revelation 7:3).
This Seal is only the earnest of our inheritance, only the first sign, a small portion of what is to come, when we become children of God (2 Corinthians 1:22). It is a deposit, a security, a pledge, the first installment of the wonderful gift; the inheritance of eternal life (John 3:15-16), a mansion fashioned to every individual (John 14:2-3), redemption from this world of pain and suffering to a Heavenly place where there will no longer be tears or anguish (Revelation 21:4). We become God’s prized possession, sealed by the price of the life of His dear son, Jesus Christ. Sealed by the blood of the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12-14). Sealed by a bond that cannot be broken.
Lord, help me to always give you the glory and praise for the seal you have placed on my life. Let me remember the sacrifice Your precious Son gave that I might receive this precious gift. Help me to remember that even as I leave this earth, Your seal is forever visible by those in Heavenly places and the hand of evil can never remove it. Praise Your Holy Name.
**A Journey through Ephesians – Chapter 1, Part 8
Written by Linda J. Humes
9-6-14
Linda J. Humes 