Oh, What a Foretaste

"Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." - Ephesians 1:14 (NKJV)

The word "guarantee" here means "down payment" or "pledge." Think about how earnest money works when buying a house. When you make an offer on a home, you don't pay the full price up front. Instead, you put down earnest money - a substantial deposit that proves you're serious about the purchase and guarantees you'll follow through with the full payment. That earnest money secures the deal until closing day.

That's what God has done with the Holy Spirit. He has given us His Spirit as earnest money, a guarantee that what He has promised, He will bring to pass in our lives. How do you know heaven is your future home? How do you know all these promises are true? Because God has given you His Holy Spirit as the guarantee.

But it's more than just a guarantee - it's a foretaste. The Holy Spirit gives us a taste of heaven right here on earth. When we experience the witness of the Spirit, when we feel that overwhelming love, when we know beyond doubt that we belong to God - that's a foretaste of what we'll experience for all eternity.

No one can break that seal - the seal of the Holy Spirit. You may remember that when Jesus died on the cross and was buried, the religious leaders were afraid His disciples might steal the body. So they had Roman soldiers seal the tomb. They thought that would keep Jesus in. But you can't seal in the power of God! On the third day, Jesus broke through that seal and rose from the dead. Only God could break that seal!

In the same way, when the Holy Spirit seals us, nothing and no one but God Himself can break that seal. Not our failures, not our doubts, not our circumstances, not even death itself. We are sealed until the day of redemption.

Listen to the words of that great hymn by Fanny Crosby:
 
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine,
heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Notice it - "a foretaste of glory divine." What do you think you'll feel when you get to heaven? The Holy Spirit has been given to help you experience a taste of that right now as a child of God.

Personal Reflection Question: Have you experienced moments when the Holy Spirit gave you a foretaste of heaven - times when God's love and presence were so real they overwhelmed your heart?

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit as the guarantee of my inheritance in heaven. Help me to recognize those moments when You give me foretastes of glory - when Your love feels overwhelmingly real, and Your presence fills my heart. When I doubt my salvation or worry about my future, remind me that Your Spirit in me is Your down payment on eternity. Help me rest in the security that Your seal cannot be broken by anything in this world. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: "Sealed by the Spirit" (Ephesians 1:11-14): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/2jry7yd/5-secured-by-the-spirit-eph-1-11-14