But God!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Someone has wisely said that "good things come in small packages," beloved! That is certainly true when it comes to the Word of God. In some of the fewest words we often find the greatest promises. Consider with me, for example, the two words "But God." Do you recall the passage wherein God informed Abraham that he and his wife Sarah would become the parents of a son? In response, Abraham actually laughed at the prospect of a 100 year old man and his 90 year old wife creating a child of their own. Abraham then offered to God what was to him a much more realistic prospect: "Oh, that Ishmael might live before you!" In reply, we find the following glorious promise of the Most High God:

"BUT GOD said, 'No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him'" (Genesis 17:19)

And what about when Joseph in Egypt confronted his brothers who had sold him into slavery? With their lives quite literally in his hands, Joseph made the following astounding revelation to them:

"But Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, BUT GOD meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive'" (Genesis 50:19-20)

Further, who does not recall Jesus' story of the rich farmer who wanted to tear down his barns and build bigger ones, to take his ease in luxury for the rest of his life? Jesus' words that follow are sobering for the self-focused heart!

"BUT GOD said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'" (Luke 12:20)

Obviously the "But God" statements of Scripture have much to reveal to us, beloved! Without a doubt, the most meaningful and powerful of them all, however, has to be that one found in our focal verses here. Paul had just told the Ephesians how we all at one time were under God's judgment as "children of wrath" with no hope of our own that could possibly deter God's wrath against our sinfulness. Then he followed up that graphic statement with the most beautiful promise the ears of man could ever hear!

"BUT GOD, being rich in mercy"

No promise of Scripture is more glorious than to know that God is rich in mercy toward us in the person of Jesus Christ. In that mercy He made us alive together in Christ, He adopted us into His own divine family, He cleansed us and forgave us for every wrongdoing, and He has sealed us forever unto eternal life. And it all began with two words - BUT GOD!

Ron