A long and arduous journey is bearable if a desirable destination is at the end of the road.  However, if you have no knowledge of the destination, you are likely to turn back or take an easier path when encountering difficulties.  Having a leader who knows where he/she is going makes all the difference. 

In Ephesians, Paul depicts God as such a leader.  He doesn’t meander or get lost.  God is intentional, proactive, and purposeful:

• “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…” (1:1).
• “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless.” (1:4)
• “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” (1:5)
• “…he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (1:9-10)
• “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” (1:11-12)
• “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross…” (2:15)
• “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be make known to the rulers and authorities  in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (3:10-11)

God has a good plan and he will accomplish it fully “when the times reach their fulfillment.”   He knows where he is going and he knows how to get there.  One of the reasons Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is so encouraging is that it refocuses us on our destination and gives us confidence that we will make it there.  God has a plan; we aren’t aimlessly wandering.  In fact, through his Word he describes where we are going and how to get there.  Studying the Scriptures keeps us on the right track.

What does Ephesians say about God’s purposes and plans for the Church and for our world?