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/By Oscar M. Baker
Riches in Holiest of All
“Making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: (the eyes of your understanding being enlightened), that ye may know what is the hope of His calling” (Eph. 1:16-18).
Calling and hope are closely related. “...even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4). As we look up the word calling, we find it used in the previous dispensation of promise. They had a calling, too. They even had a heavenly calling, having to do with the New Jerusalem which is to come down out of the new heaven to the new earth.
Our calling is called a high calling in Ph’p. 3:14. There is connected with it a prize as well as a hope. A prize is something given for good work done, as in the schools they give stars or presents to those who do good work.
In the first reference, you will note in reading closely that this calling is God’s calling. God makes a calling and there is a hope attached. God has a hope, and those called have a hope.
In a former dispensation, many were called, but few chosen. We might think on this.
Now in Ephesians, God’s calling antedated Gen. 1:2, before the overthrow. This calling is to a realm far above all mentioned in Gen. 1:1. It has to do with the super-heavenlies.
Our hope has to do with a place where Christ has been raised, at God’s own right hand, in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named. See Eph. 1:20,21.
This hope is closely connected with Christ, for it is the great appearing with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). Glory here is a place and is the equivalent of heavenly places. In that place our life is hid with Christ in God.
This appearing will be far above that heaven mentioned in Gen. 1:6. No mention of this heaven far above, being created. It is above the Kosmos or creation. No sin or corruption has ever entered that holy of holies or ever will enter there. It is the place of God’s throne, where He dwells in power and majesty.
And it is the will of the Father that we stand in that place before Him holy and without blame in love. See Eph. 1:4.
We are to walk worthy of this great and holy calling (Eph. 4:1). Worthy here is the axis or balance arm in the scales. Our walk or practice is to be in accord with our calling, the doctrine of Eph. 1:1 to 3:13.
Titus 2:11-14 tells us that we should live looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God, our Savior Jesus Christ. And this has a connection with being zealous of good works. Always the practical side in connection with calling.
