Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel.

He probably walked.

Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power

This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Christ. This is a supernal blessing that they could not understand. Nor can we.

Even Joseph Smith, who had a great understanding of such things, was not able to understand all of the things that were in futurity:

(D&C 78)

17Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

This is one of my favorite passages. Joseph Smith - a little child? This is the same guy who in Section 76 states that he saw Christ on the throne on the right hand of the Father... This is the same guy who translated the Book of Mormon... This is the same guy who was visited by Christ and the Father in a singular experience in all of history... If he's a little child and cannot understand, surely it's OK for me not to understand everything.

But these passages are full of hope and joy. The hope comes from the atonement of Christ which makes us worthy to receive the inheritance promised. The joy comes from the assurance that these things are real, that we do not have to understand everything, and that the Lord will lead us along. It reminds me of this:

At the Gate of the Year

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year

'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied,

'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God

Trod gladly into the night

He led me towards the hills

And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!

What need our human life to know

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things

Both high and low,

God hideth his intention."

by Minnie Louise Harkins 1875-1957