August 25, 2013

Ephesians 5:23 — For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.

Last week I was occupied by thoughts of the Last Judgment. I want to start this week with what comes after — with heaven. I’m thinking that my theology might not be defensible — but my heart is leading today, not my head!
Have you ever thought what place you will occupy in heaven? Myra and I do, from time to time. It’s a light-hearted discussion. Perhaps we are not serious enough, but have you ever wondered about it?

Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander’s hymn, “All Things Bright And Beautiful” was first published in 1848. It is said that the intent was to cast light on the opening of the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” That’s not my focus today though. It occurred to me in the light of my theme …
I have a soft spot for the third verse. It’s politically incorrect, I suppose, nowadays — some of you might even think it positively Un-American! The English Inner London Education Authority — a generally socialist bunch — actually banned it in 1982! It goes like this:

The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate, God made them, high or lowly, And ordered their estate.

Now perhaps these sentiments won’t do for today’s world — but I think they say something very real about heaven. There are ranks in heaven, and we shall each have our allotted place (and be happy in it, of course).
In 1883, 35 years after Mrs Alexander’s hymn was published, a chap called John Eadie wrote, in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians,

All that we know is, that there is foundation for the main idea—that there is no dull and sating uniformity among the inhabitants of heaven—that order and freedom are not inconsistent with gradation or rank—that there is glory and a higher glory—power and a nobler power—rank and a loftier rank, to be witnessed in the mighty scale. As there are orbs of dazzling radiance amidst the paler and humbler stars of the sky, so there are bright and majestic chieftains among the hosts of God, nearer God in position, and like God in majesty, possessing and reflecting more of the Divine splendor than their lustrous brethren around them.

Mr. Eadie was writing about the angels, of course, but I can’t help thinking it applies with just the same force to us. Ephesians 5:23 says “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” It describes an order. Order is the very essence of the Kingdom. For each one of us there will be a perfect place. God will make us high and lowly, and order our estate!