To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
Millions of people today hope they’re going to heaven, but they want nothing to do with the Lord Jesus, so it’s sad to say that they really have no hope. Biblical hope is waited for and expected, but there is no guesswork to it. The contract has been signed; it’s a done deal.
Heaven is actually a small part of a believer’s hope. Adoption into the family of God, sins forgiven, being accepted in the Beloved, rewards for service, and eternal life are all part and parcel of what disciples look forward to in Christ. These things are their hope.
Many of the promises that come along with the fellowship believers have with the Savior are fulfilled here on earth. True faith results in a transformed life, temporal blessings, answered prayer, the fruit of the Spirit, and the mind of Christ. Once these are experienced, a Christian has no doubt that God does miracles and completes His promises, so Christians are assured that He is also in charge of the future.
The Holy Spirit is the “signing bonus” that God gives to believers when they come to Christ through faith. It is the guarantee of good things to come and the proof of their Hope of Glory.
Throughout the centuries, Christians have suffered and died for their faith, but no matter how bad it got, Jesus was there all the way. This is what is known as the “fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). When the faithful suffer for their Lord, they can sense His presence in a way unlike anything they would have known when things went well. The realization that Christ is in them and with them even at the point of death is their comfort in adversity. He is their Hope of Glory.
February 6
