Navigating Life by God’s Will: Lessons from Ephesians and the Lighthouse
One stormy night, a large naval battleship was navigating through rough waters. The crew noticed a faint light ahead, directly in their path. The ship’s captain, a seasoned and highly ranked officer, immediately sent a radio signal:
📡 “This is the captain of a naval battleship. You are on our course. Change your direction by 15 degrees to avoid collision.”
A response came back:
📡 “No, you must change your direction by 15 degrees.”
The captain, irritated at the apparent defiance, responded with authority:
📡 “I am a captain in the Navy. I demand that you change your direction immediately.”
The reply was calm but firm:
📡 “Sir, with all due respect, you must change your course.”
By now, the captain was furious. He called in reinforcements and responded with a final warning:
📡 “This is a heavily armed battleship. We are ordering you to move immediately!”
Then came the final reply:
📡 “This is a lighthouse. We cannot move. You must change your course.”
The battleship represents our human reasoning, pride, and desire to control our direction in life. We often assume we know the right path, believing that we have the power to command circumstances according to our will.
However, the lighthouse represents God’s will—unchangeable, immovable, and guiding us toward the right path. No matter how much authority we think we have, we must submit to His direction to avoid disaster.
Letter to the Ephesians – A Call to God’s Will
The Book of Ephesians opens with a powerful theme—God’s will. Paul was appointed as an apostle by God’s will, sent to Ephesus according to His plan, and ultimately wrote this letter under divine guidance. This book is deeply rooted in the will of God.
How does His will shape our calling and purpose in life? As we study Ephesians, let’s seek to understand His divine purpose, realign our lives with His calling, and walk in His perfect will.
The Will of God in Ephesians
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
📖 (Ephesians 1:1, KJV)
Paul identifies his apostleship as a calling appointed by the will of God. It was not man’s decision but God’s divine plan. To understand this better, let’s go back to when Jesus Himself called Paul into ministry.
Paul’s Calling by the Will of God
In Acts 9:6, Jesus speaks to Paul (then Saul):
📖 “The Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
God then appoints Ananias to pray for Paul. When Ananias hesitates, God reassures him:
📖 “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” (Acts 9:15, KJV)
Paul was a chosen vessel of God. What a privilege!
But what about us? Do we know why God has called us? The Book of Ephesians speaks about the different callings we have.
📖 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11, KJV)
We must be sure of our calling and pursue the will of God. Paul reminds us in this epistle that he was chosen by the will of God.
God’s Will and the Ephesian Church
Paul first visited Ephesus during his second missionary journey. At that time, he was not permitted to stay long. He left Aquila and Priscilla behind and said:
📖 “But I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.” (Acts 18:21, KJV)
Paul was driven by God’s will. Later, during his third missionary journey, God allowed him to stay in Ephesus for over two years (Acts 19). This time, it was God’s will that Paul would minister in Ephesus for a longer duration.
Are we allowing God’s will to guide our journeys and decisions?
While in Ephesus, Paul met some believers, laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit—speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:6). A revival started in Ephesus, and Paul continued teaching the Word for two years.
The Ephesian Church was established through God’s will, which is why Paul begins his letter with this powerful truth.
The Will of God in Ephesians – Key Verses
God’s will is a recurring theme throughout Ephesians, as seen in these verses:
📖 Ephesians 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
📖 Ephesians 1:5 – According to the good pleasure of his will,
📖 Ephesians 1:9 – The mystery of his will,
📖 Ephesians 1:11 – The purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,
📖 Ephesians 5:17 – Understanding what the will of the Lord is,
📖 Ephesians 6:6 – Doing the will of God from the heart.
God chooses and predestines us according to His will. He reveals the mystery of His will to us. He works all things after the counsel of His will.
It is our responsibility to understand His will and do it from the heart.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord,
Show me Your will, so I may understand it and do it from the depth of my heart.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
