WE COME TO our next passage, passing over to Ephesians, the richest of all the Epistles in the “in Christ” passages: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1). The marginal reading says, “who are at Ephesus and faithful.” This marginal reading is significant. It seems to express wonder that these saints are at Ephesus and yet are faithful. Ephesus with its profligacy and idolatry—“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”—was hard on saintliness.
Being in Christ Jesus may also mean that we are in Ephesus—in our Ephesus, which translated into modern terms would mean in a factory, a university, a fraternity, a home, a lodge, a set, or sometimes most difficult of all, in a church. If being in Christ were just being in Christ, full stop, it would be comparatively simple, but being in Him also means being in them. There’s the rub!
The rub of our environment may be a rub into irritation, or into irradiation, however. It can be burnishing powder to make us shine. There can be saints who are also in Ephesus, and there can be saints who are in hell. Living in heaven and hell at the same time with heaven predominating! Ephesus may not have the final word in our lives—Christ does. That means we are saints in Christ Jesus in Ephesus. Not the circumstances, but the “innerstances” determine us.
O Spirit of God, dwell in me. Then wherever I dwell, I shall dwell in heaven, for Thou art heaven. No outer hell can touch this deep-down heaven. I am immune to my environment. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I may live environed by Ephesus, but I really live environed by the kingdom of God.
