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The King Who Makes Your Bed?

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Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…”

When we were dead spiritually to the things of the Spirit and the Word of God – Jesus made us ALIVE by the Spirit. But how did He make us alive? How is He making us alive? Any quick read of Ephesians 2 will cause you to notice one common theme arising from Paul’s focus. What is that theme? – Eph. 2:5 “…[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).”

Eph. 2:7 “He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor)…”

Eph. 2:8 “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith…”

Grace is Paul’s theme, and it is Grace that saved us, is saving us, and will save us. But how would you illustrate this Grace? There’s a beautiful book I have been reading for seminary from the Puritan Classics (Puritans existed back in the 16th and 17th Centuries – think the Mayflower) entitled “The Blessed and Boundless God” by George Swinnock. Swinnock illustrates Grace in a beautiful way. In fact if you read and picture it carefully it should grab a hold of your heart – like it did mine. Swinnock writes, “We would think it a great grace…” Stop right there. We would think it a great grace if what? “For a human king… to take care of a poor beggar; to provide him with food, shelter, medicine, and safety; to supply him in all his needs, support him in all his weaknesses, protect him in all his dangers, and deliver him in all his distresses; to spread his table, provide his food, clothe his body, and make his bed; to protect him, counsel him, and assist him. The King of kings (to whom all earthly kings are but dirt and dung) does more than this!” Swinnock continues, “Oh what grace that the incomparable God (who has millions of glorious angels serving Him) should serve poor worms!” Imagine a king that makes paupers beds and spreads their tables. Is this even fathomable or possible?

What is Grace? Your King, the KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords – spreading your table? Making your bed? What kind of King is this? Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…” In other words this King wants to fellowship with us. This King – who spreads your table, and makes your bed – brings you into union, oneness, with Jesus. Everything that belongs to the King belongs to you; belongs to me. When a man marries a woman everything that belongs to the man now belongs to the wife and everything that belongs to the wife belongs to the husband (unless you have a “pre-nup”). When Jesus united you to Him – He “married” you. All your sins, shame, condemnation, failures, iniquities, transgressions, etc. – became His. But guess what? Everything that is His now belongs to you!!! His righteousness, His resurrection power, His innocence, His purity, His holiness, His Glory, His Kingdom, His dominion, His inheritance, this earth. EVERYTHING… belongs to all those who are in fellowship and union with Christ by the Spirit; by His Word; in and through His precious promises. That’s My King! As S.M. Lockridge once asked, “Do you know Him!?”

Now if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye and make you want to shout, I really don’t know what to do to help you. As the Apostle Paul added, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ….?” (see Rom. 8)

Significance of Sukkot (Tabernacles)

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Deuteronomy 16:16 states: Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread,(Passover) at the Feast of Weeks, (Pentecost) and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

Exodus 23:14–17 Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to Me.15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.16 Also you shall keep the Feast of Harvest [Pentecost], [acknowledging] the first fruits of your toil, of what you sow in the field. And [third] you shall keep the Feast of Ingathering [Booths or Tabernacles] at the end of the year, when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. 

Significant events occurred during two of the three mandatory feast days – of God’s Biblical Calendar: Feast of Unleavened Bread or Passover = Jesus was crucified, and resurrected. Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks or Pentecost = Jesus Baptized His Followers in the Holy Spirit and Birthed the Church.

What significant event could happen around the Feast of Tabernacles-Sukkot? Like Passover and Pentecost, Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. The holiday commemorates the 40 year period the children of Israel wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot also celebrates the harvest, and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering. During the days of Jesus’ ministry on earth, Sukkot, was celebrated through sacrificing 70 oxen, corresponding to the 70 nations, and praying for peace and harmony among all the nations of the world. As a religious Holy Day – it follows the Feast of Trumpets, 10 Days of Awe, and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). The time of judging yourself, confession of sin and repentance becomes a time of celebration at Sukkot. Lev. 23:42-43 You shall dwell in Sukkot for seven days…So that your future generations shall know that I had the children of Israel live in Sukkot when I brought them out of Egypt. Today the Jewish people around the world build temporary shelters to participate in this Holy Day. During this 7-day event – families will eat and sleep in their sukkah.

Hebrews 11:13-16 states: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. NKJV

Sukkot or Tabernacles reminds us we are only passing through this life. This earth is not our home – Jesus is. All followers of Jesus, are strangers and pilgrims in this land. We are looking forward to a Heavenly City – actually seeking it out, desiring, and longing for it. And why shouldn’t we? Have you ever stopped to think that most of us will be forgotten after just three generations. No one will really know who we were. My Dad has done extensive genealogical research on our family. He has traced our roots all the way back to the highlands of Scotland. He has the names of ancestors going back all the way to the 1600’s. I know many of their names. But guess what? In reality I have no idea who they were. Nobody does – but Jesus. Jesus has our names written in the Palm of His Hand (Isa. 49:16); He has the hairs of our head numbered (Mt. 10:30); He saves our tears in a bottle and records them in a book (Ps. 56:8); He saves our prayers in a bowl (Rev. 5:8); He records in a book when we have conversations about Him (Mal. 3:16) He knew us before we were born (Jer. 1:5). I’ve said it often: What gift do you give a rich man who owns everything in the world? The one thing He doesn’t have: you. You are God’s Treasure, His pearl of great price, and His lost coin. My Mom still has my baby book. If my Mom thinks I am that special to save a scrap book of memories about me – how precious is it that we have a God Who hasn’t just saved our baby footprints and handprints? He has saved every trace of who we are – from beginning to new beginning. Remind yourself of these things during these seven days.