Eph 1:9-10

Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV)

[9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

God has made known to us the mystery of his will. That phrase “his will” occurs three times in the first eleven verses of this chapter. What is the mystery of his will? It is the plan that God has “to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth” in his time (Eph 1:10). In the minds of the ancient Romans that’s crazy. Heaven is the goal. Earth is of lesser stuff. In the minds of the Jews that’s crazy. Heaven is the place of God and angels. Earth is where man dwells. They were looking for an earthly kingdom. But God’s plan all along was to unite heaven and earth, God and man, heavenly stuff and material stuff. It all comes together in Jesus, God who became man.

All of this is according to “the purpose of his will”(Eph 1:5). His plan was to send his son. His plan was to redeem mankind. His plan was to accomplish his purpose in his time in a way that would amaze all who inhabit heaven and earth. This was “the mystery of his will” (Eph 1:9) which would be accomplished through “the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11). Mankind’s rebellion and unbelief did not take God by surprise. He did not have to come up with a new plan after Adam ate the fruit in the garden. This was his plan all along. It was an ingenious plan that only the mind of God could develop. It was a plan to lavish us with grace, redeem us by his grace, bless us through his Son, adopt us as sons, and unite all things in heaven and earth.

At Christmastime we sing about heaven intersecting with earth. Angels sang. Shepherd’s saw and wondered. Magi traveled far to worship. Earth became the birthplace of the Most High. Heaven intersected earth, but that was not the goal. That was the means by which heaven will not visit earth, nor will earth visit heaven as Paul did in a vision (2Cor 12:2). Rather, the birth of the Savior was the first step in the plan to unite heaven and earth. This is the mystery of his will according to the purpose of his will by the counsel of his will “to the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:12).

That is the true magic of the season. That is the foundation of our hope as we enter a new year. That is the incredible mystery that he has revealed to us who believe. The truth is, it doesn’t end here. We are part of a far greater story that we will one day see with greater clarity and wonder at the wisdom and goodness of God. It is all about him, for his glory and for our good. His is working out the mystery of his will according to the counsel of his will to accomplish the purpose of his will. Trust him as you enter a new year and a new decade.