Ephesians 1:18
“I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Paul defines two parts of the enlightenment he wants for us, that we will grasp the hope of our calling and the riches of the inheritance. Romans 8:25 says, "But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it." We hope for something in the future, that is the fulfillment of our calling. It's what we were created for. God wanted a people to be in relationship with. He wanted a people that chose to love Him. There was risk in this, as that meant there would be those, in fact many that won't choose Him.
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face, now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I am fully known", (I Corinthians 13:12). This builds our hope. Presently I feel full and blessed. Yet there will be much more. I love how Pastor Rick says our understanding God is like an ant understanding the internet. It just isn't possible. We were meant to know God, so we have much more potential. Since the fall our sinful bodies can't see God. Our new spirits are a perfect fit, they are just immature, but also shackled by these bodies.
This hope is motivational. We may have an interest or a hobby that we can't wait to engage in. This godly hope instills that in us. While we might not have an activity in mind, it's more so a person. We love God and look forward to what He's got for us. It may be someone to share with or pray for. It may be a challenge to engage in. It's more so Him. We are excited for Him, growing in Him, learning about Him, engaging in ministry with and so on.
This hope certainly points to heaven, but it's also the future here on earth. "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, it grows brighter and brighter until midday", (Proverbs 4:18). This is life in Christ, it becomes fuller and better and better and fuller. I can feel the enthusiasm as I read it. That's the hope He instills in us.
In a negative analogy, a dealer knows what can give a thrill to the user. The Lord knows what will energize us. But the awesome thing is that it's healthy. We get the thrill and an improved state. Maybe that's why we can get addicted to things, because we were meant to be addicted to God, so when we aren't, we are prone to be addicted to something. It's awesome to be in a right relationship with Him.
Lord, thank You for this hope. It's so much more than we would have realized and it continues to enlighten and thrill us. Thank You.