Sealed

 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

As we try to interpret the word "sealed," we realize it means much more than just setting a mark of ownership or a distinguishing mark. It means that we have a new identity as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, marked by the Holy Spirit who engraved His mark deep into our soul. This mark, though invisible to the naked eye, is the greatest symbol of our restored relationship with our Heavenly Father, made possible by Jesus' sacrifice. It is the Holy Spirit's task to transform us into the complete image of Jesus, making us more like Him every day.

Have you ever wondered how to recognize the seal or mark that sets apart those who follow Christ? The answer can be found in the book of John 13:35, where it says: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." This seal that distinguishes us is not just God's love for us, but God’s love in us for each other. This seal of love is something that we cannot create on our own, but it is the love of God working through us.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our lives by working alongside us every day to mold us into the likeness of Christ. While it may seem that only major issues require change, we must remember that it is the little things that make us who we are. The Holy Spirit recognizes this and seeks to transform us on a deeper level, refining our character and shaping us into better versions of Christlikeness. By allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we can experience true transformation in all aspects of our being.

Transformation is a lifelong process. We don't become like Jesus overnight; it takes time to mature, much like a fine wine. Paul states that with the seal of the Holy Spirit in place, it is our promise or guarantee of our inheritance until we fully attain it. We can actualize this promise now as we are in the process of becoming more like Jesus, but something greater is coming when our full maturity is completed. We will become what we were meant to be from the beginning, heirs of the eternal Kingdom of God, ruling and reigning with Jesus as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.

Friends, let's talk about something vital: our identity. When we receive the Holy Spirit's seal, we experience a transformation in Christ. Our old identity dies, and a new one arises. We are no longer bound to our previous life of sin and death. Instead, we are brought to a new reality of life, one that is free in Christ Jesus. We break free from the chains of laws, rules, and ordinances that once gave sin power over our lives. The law of sin was the thief that robbed us of our freedom. But John 10:9-10 ESV Jesus states, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Abundant life is what being sealed with the Holy Spirit is all about.

Our Heavenly Father takes so much pleasure in working in our lives; it gives Him joy knowing that we are engaged in the process of reflecting His presence back to Him and to others, which is the Father's glory. The Father always wants His children to reflect His nature so that the world would know that He exists and that He loves all people no matter what tribe, kindred, or nation, all are His children. 

Revelation 5:7-10 ESV “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

    and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

    from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

    and they shall reign on the earth.”

As human beings, we are like scrolls that have been sealed with the instructions of the Holy Spirit imprinted upon them. These instructions guide us to proclaim the boundless mercies of our Heavenly Father to the world. Let us unravel the scrolls of our lives and reveal the divine message inscribed within them to bring hope and inspiration to those around us.

Stephen Barnett