The Wonder Years

Do you remember the last time you were awestruck?

I mean mouth-dropping, eyes-straining, can't-utter-a-word wonder.

It's one of the things I miss about my son being really little.

He still has the deep sense of joy and wonder, but when he was three it was all go, all. the. time. Everything was fantastic, new, and filled with awe: from tiny fiddler crabs crowding around the feet of mangroves to the stars peppering the night sky — it all created wonder.

And as I've gotten older, I feel I have to fight my natural inclinations to retain that wonder. As adults, we have a lot more to balance and to track. Our yokes feel heavy. And in our ruts and routines, we forget to stick our head out the window and take in the wonder.

The same can happen to our wonder of God. If we let our routines rule our hearts, those routines can deaden our wonder of the most wonderful.

Wonder in God's Wonderful Promises

Did you know Paul's opening lines (verses 3 through 14) in Ephesians are one long sentence in Greek? It's a single train of thought.

And in the middle of this section, he brings in the wonder...

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment —to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 1:7-10 (NIV)

It's easy to breeze past this one.

But pause, and wonder in what God has done and will do through Christ.

Wonder in what has happened

Through Christ you have...

• total redemption through Christ — you've been bought back by a huge sum (the blood of Christ)
• complete forgiveness of sins — this word carries meanings like "freedom" and "deliverance."
• God's grace "lavished" on you
• the full wisdom of God revealed to you through Jesus

Wonder in that for a sec.

If we let our routines rule our hearts, those routines can deaden our wonder of the most wonderful.

Wonder in what will happen

Paul ends this section with what will happen in the end, "when the times reach their fulfillment." He doesn't go into heavy detail (at least here) about what he means by this, but he offers this brief detail...

"to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."

Each translation handles verse 10 a tad differently, but they all offer the same revelation. Here's a sampling from two others:

• "The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah—both things in heaven and things on earth, all in Him." (TLV)
• "...as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." (ESV)

Paul is pointing you towards God's ultimate goal: The homecoming of heaven upon earth. Of God dwelling humanity and every tear being wiped away. Of the final resurrection and death being conquered once-and-for-all.

Honestly, there's so much I can say on this topic, but for now I want you to soak in the wonder of what God has done for you and what He will do for you and every person.

🔥 Bonus Sauce!

"Wake up the wonder" with this great Elevation track...

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