I might be taking a leap of faith here, but I’m going to assume that you’ve gone to a swimming pool on an extremely hot day.

Just imagine, the sun beating down, sweat dripping off your face. You walk down the stairs into the shallow end of the pool. And while the cool water feels nice, it only comes up to your waste.

The water is refreshing but do you know what would be even better? To go further, until you’re fully submerged into the cool water.

Now, parallel that idea with your spiritual life.

The moment of our salvation, for the sake of the illustration, you are given access to the cool water of the swimming pool. And this water represents the spiritual wealth that is found in Christ.

Whether due to ignorance or indifference, many believers remain in the shallow end of this spiritual wealth for a majority, if not all, of their lives. Whatever the reason, to remain in the shallow end of these spiritual blessings is honestly a tragedy.

This is Paul’s motivation thus far into Ephesians, that the children of God not only know that they possess but that they experience the fullness and richness found in Jesus. Setting the foundation for believers to experience an abundant life (John 10:10).

It is only when God moves in the hearts of His people, can we understand the purpose in which we were created; the fulfillment that we crave; and the ability to give God the glory in everything that we do.

Stepping into the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19) is understanding the spiritual richness made available to us.

What does that mean exactly? It’s simple really.

Living out the fullness of God is simply living out what already dwells inside of you. Metaphorically, you have access to the deep end of the swimming pool, you just need to make your way over to it.

The moment Jesus brings us from death to life, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Every spiritual blessing, every possible thing we need is provided to us. We will never be able to completely understand the fullness of God here on earth. However, we can experience what God has for us by living in obedience and devotion to the finished work of Christ and being faithful to the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.

There is nothing more for God to give us than God himself residing in our hearts- leading us, convicting us, and encouraging us to be more like Jesus. The only thing we must do is live a life worthy of it, in complete submission and trust in God alone.

So, my encouragement to you and to myself is to live in the deep end of the swimming pool and don’t settle for the shallow. Be a participant and proponent of the power and love that lives inside of you.

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

by Emily Rico