“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27b NASB
Seven words that can change our lives forever…
How could we have overlooked the significance of these words for so long?
For all of recorded history, there is evidence that man has entertained the possibility of someone or something beyond ourselves that we “need” to “know”. Right? Haven’t we also wanted to taste glory- to connect, to be heard, to be noticed, to matter, to make a difference, to be admired, to be honored, to be exalted? Isn’t it amazing what we will do to get a little honor, or favor or attention?
How do most of us try to meet these needs? What have been the results? But we don’t stop there. We simply add to our self-effort a standard of performance, a set of rules or a system of beliefs. But has it worked?
Are we to the place in our spiritual journey that we are willing to consider an alternative to self-effort or trying to measure up? What if God has already solved the mystery? Are we ready to listen? Jesus, as He is preparing His disciples for what was going to happen to Him, said this concerning the Holy Spirit; “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 NASB. Christ, Himself, has always been the solution to knowing God and experiencing life abundantly. But God in us; how can that be?
Is it not the message of God through the apostle Paul, over and over? Christ in our heart is our only hope of glory. God has never considered that we in ourselves are the solution to anything eternal. Only Christ.
It cannot just stay someone else’s question, but it must become ours individually. Are you willing to turn from your self-effort, and embrace by faith the finished work of Christ in your behalf? He is waiting on you and me to ask Him. Lord Jesus, I invite you to live your life through me!