Ephesians 1: 7 In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 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.
For the first time in over 30 years of my Christian life I am beginning to understand the purpose of God. In these verses we see that it has been a mystery, it was both hidden but also incomprehensible. In fact only a God level of wisdom could devise such an incredible plan!
God's purpose, which he has set forth in Christ, was to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.
Let's back track a bit. When Adam & Eve fell, man and man's dominion, the earth, was separated from God. If you like, they were disunited. Sin bought about a huge disunity that was far reaching and incredibly deep. Earth, the domain of man was disunited from Heaven, the domain of God. The days of God walking with Adam in the cool of the day were over.
Right from the very point of this disunity, this separation, God's intention through Christ was to restore unity. In fact he promised to do this from day one. This unity would go further than just man, but would encompass the entire domain of man, in fact everything in Heaven & Earth would be united in Christ.
God redeemed us to himself, he purchased us by clearing the debt that we owed to him. Christ was the redemption certificate. Our debt has been fully repaid by Christ on the cross.
How this reunification would take place was a mystery. God knew, but man, angels and demons didn't know. It was kept hidden.
In fact the the bible talks about it in these verses in 1 Corinthians 2:
6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"
No amount of non God wisdom could ever fathom the depth of this mystery. Unlike the secrets and mysteries of men, God's mystery wasn't leaked, it remained a mystery until the plan was fully completed, until it was too late for it to be thwarted.
Oh the Heights of the
