To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. -Colossians 1:27
There is a glory we look forward to and hope for.
If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and rose again victorious over death for your justification (Rom 4: 25), there is a hope you now have, the hope that one day you will be changed to be like Him (1 John 3:2) and be with him forever (1Thessalonians 4:17).
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. – 1 John 3:2 (NIV)
This hope is a solid foundation amidst the pain, disappointments, temptations, trials, failure, losses and illnesses we experience on this side of eternity because of the presence of sin in the world.
Our hope in Christ is the anchor for our souls that transcends this life. It is a foretaste of heaven: Jesus living in our hearts, transforming our lives. His Spirit seals and marks us, guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph 1:14).
Jesus knew that this miracle of ‘heaven on earth’ was necessary for man to receive the gift of righteousness through faith in the invisible God, not works. God chose to reveal this mystery of Christ living in us -‘His kingdom come, and His will be done on earth,’- as we bear witness to Him. We do this by carrying his nature and demonstrating his love.
So, guard this hope in your heart carefully. Understand that it is a gift from God. A hint of the world to come (Read Rev 21:1-7). Fan it into flame, and let Christ reveal His Kingdom, His glory, through you!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my hope. When all else in life fails and I don’t know what to do, I will cling to you. When I am confused and feel very hopeless, I will cling to you. Jesus, may my life be a testament to the reality of your love and your kingdom!
For further study, read Colossians 1