In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13
Canada was the first country in the world to make radio frequency identification (RFID) tags mandatory for cattle. The tags are attached to the ears of each animal, and provide a positive identification for the animal. The tags help to eliminate the theft of cattle, allow the tracking of animals in the case of contamination such as mad cow disease, and allow several ranchers to herd their animals together and easily identify which animals belong to each rancher. Some of the RFID chips also contain temperature sensors to alert owners when the animals become sick or injured. Because the RFID tags must be present when the animals are sold, they have all but eliminated the problem of cattle rustling. In a small way, the RFID chips are similar to the identification system that God uses for Christians.
Our text reminds us that we are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Within each believer, the Holy Spirit takes up residence at the moment of our conversion. He is our identification mark, our proof, if you will, that we are children of God. Our text uses the words ‘of promise’ to point out to us the many ways in which the Holy Spirit identifies and preserves us. The Word of God has many rich and precious promises for Christians, and it is the Holy Spirit Who guarantees the delivery of these promises.
The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we are forever free of the debt of our sins and will never face punishment for them. He marks us as those who are washed in the precious blood of Christ. This also marks us as those who are fit for the mansions of Glory, that place where sin can never enter. All of the promises of all of the eternal blessings of Heaven are ours because of the seal of the Holy Spirit.
That same seal also provides us with the promise of our Lord’s presence every moment of our lives. We have the promise of His ready ear every time we pray, and His guidance and revelation every time we open the Word of God. We have His promise of aid in our distresses and strength in our trials. Because of His promises, Christians live a charmed life in the world, as we are preserved from many dangers that the unsaved had no protection from. Because nothing can befall us that is outside of the will of God, we have the promise that even those things that do come into our life are there for a purpose. We have no idea of all of the accidents that we never encounter or the ills that never befall us, all because of God’s promise to preserve those who are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
The seal of the Holy Spirit of promise is one of the spiritual blessings listed in the first chapter of Ephesians. Surely it is one of our greatest blessings. -Jim MacIntosh