You Are In the Father

Yesterday the Church celebrated the Feast of Ascension, the day which commemorates Christ’s glorious return to His Throne in Heaven. Here’s the deal that most Christians do not consider. If we are baptized into Christ, and become united to Christ, then we too are on the Throne of God with Christ.

It doesn’t mean that we are God. It means that God has blessed us with a new existence. We are able by God’s grace to share completely in His glory. Since Christ is fully human and fully God, then humanity is now sharing the Throne of God with the Son. It also means that we are united to the Father.

The Lord said to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me.”

John 14.1-11

It is clear. Christ is united to the Father. He is not the Father, but He is united to the Father. He is also united to the Holy Spirit, but we will leave that for another post closer to Pentecost. Shortly before His Passion on the Cross, which we heard during Holy Week, Christ prayed, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.” (John 17.21)

The time has come for us to stop living like we are in isolation. We were created by God to be united to Him. We have been united also with each other, through Him. When we sin, our sin affects others. When we fall, others fall with us. When we are lifted, others are lifted with us. It is both joy and sorrow.

Spend today considering how being united to God, sitting on His Throne with Him, affects you and those around you. If it hasn’t affected you before now, then now is a great time to change the way you think about God and your relationship with Him.

God is not some distant deity demanding loyalty from his subjects. He is a loving God that lives united to His people. He has prepared a place for us in Heaven. It isn’t just a small shack. It is His Throne.