The Prince And The Pauper

Ephesians 2:1-7

Mark Twain’s The Prince And The Pauper is the story of an extremely poor boy named Tom and a prince who are accidentally switched in their roles. Their adventures in their new roles are fascinating, and when the mix-up is finally corrected, they become friends.

Tom was raised by people who saw no possibility of improving their lives, except by criminal enterprise. The government of that time made it nearly impossible for ordinary people to progress. Common people had no importance or value.

Suddenly Tom finds himself protected and cared for by the nation. He received things he had only imagined before, from a clean bed and clothes to food and respect. His experience is similar to what we experience at salvation.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Before we were saved, we were living under Satan’s dominion. He controlled our lives, using our sin and lusts to control us and keep us from any thing good. We were surrounded by evil, and could only expect more, with the end being our death and eternal judgment.

Tom’s being treated as a prince was the result of a mistake, but our being adopted as princes is a deliberate action by God. We have the right to experience these things. God knew what we were and gave us something better.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

God knew what we deserved, but because of his great love, gave us life, even though our sin had condemned us to death. It is his gift, not our right, but he has made us co-heirs with Jesus Christ. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)

We became his children as a result of our faith, according to John 1:12-13. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” It was God’s choice to make us his children, and his heirs.

As his heirs, and joint heirs with Christ, we have the same privileges as Christ. Our rights to a place at the table of God, and all that that implies are already ours. The only thing preventing us exercising that right is our present distance away. We are like a member of the king’s family. When they are out of the country, they cannot eat at his table, but they still have the right to do so.

In time to come, we will see all the benefits of being his children, though we may only see a few at the present time. God is anticipating the time he can show us the full benefit