He’s rich and we’re alive.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV

Well despite the title this post isn’t about how God wants us to be rich… or famous. Being rich has a different meaning according to this passage. I remember eating a piece of my favorite cake recently. Carrot cake. I love carrot cake. I love the fact that it sounds healthy, it sounds like it’s good for you, ha…. well now I’m off topic. Listen, a good piece of carrot cake has a thick layer of cream cheese icing. A good piece of carrot cake is too rich to finish. It overwhelms you so much you just can’t take another bite.

When the scripture says God is rich in mercy and that He shows us the incomparable riches of His grace it means that he overwhelms us with Who He is. He is love and grace and mercy. Our life is a response to this. This is where we get tripped up in religion though. I love the last part of this passage; created in Christ Jesus to do good works meaning that He created us for good works. It doesn’t mean we earn anything from Him by doing good works. It means we respond to Him by doing good works. These works that He has in mind for us in advance.

Now let’s talk about being alive. Being alive is more than having a heartbeat or sucking air. It means having purpose and living in that purpose. Being gifted at something and making a living at it and helping people, while feeling fulfilled… now this is living! Many of us push for success in life but success isn’t the goal. It’s the American dream maybe but the American dream isn’t God’s dream. God’s dream isn’t for us to be successful, it’s for us to be significant. To make a lasting impact for generations for the purpose of God is how we become significant.

God is rich and He makes us alive. Being rich has way more to do with having money. God’s riches and His life coursing through our veins is what makes alive.