'My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you'
(Gal. 4:19). One of God's
mysterious plans is to have his Son, Jesus Christ,
formed in the hearts of all who
believe in him. "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).
We who believe in Jesus are in Christ. "Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). All that God has for us is ours "in
Christ." We have the benefits of who Christ is and
all that He has accomplished for us, because we are in Him.
Not only are we "in Christ,"
but Christ is also in us: "Christ
in you, the hope of glory."
God wants to make something known among all the
nations: "to make known ...among the Gentiles."
The message He desires to reveal is glorious in spiritual richness: "the
riches of the glory
of this mystery." However, it truly
is a mystery, in the New Testament use of that term. A biblical mystery is
something that can only be known by the revealing
work of God. The mysteries of the Scriptures cannot be
discovered or understood by intellectual investigation or personal experience.
God Himself must make them known. The Lord does this through the
grace-empowered, Spirit-empowered proclamation of His word.
Here, the great mystery God wants to unfold is "Christ
in you, the hope of glory."
What a grand hope this message
brings! Jesus, the Son of God, is willing to come and dwell within us to assure
us of making it to glory (heaven) some day. Meanwhile, Christ wants to reside
at the very core of our being: "that Christ
may dwell in your hearts
by faith" (Ephesians 3:17). As we are trusting in Him, He is living
in, and working through, our hearts. Then, from this strategic point of
intimacy and access, He gives us heavenly hope. That confident
expectation includes the joyous fact that He is coming again: "looking
for the blessed hope and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ"
(Titus 2:13). Yet, His return is not our only hope. He
Himself is our day-by-day hope: "Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the
Lord Jesus Christ, our hope"
(1 Timothy 1:1).
Jesus is our comprehensive
hope! "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and
righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus'
name." Lord
Jesus, I praise You for the hope You give-anticipation of Your return,
assurance of heaven, and daily confidence in Your operation in me. Forgive me,
Lord, for the times I have placed my hope and confidence elsewhere. Teach me and
help me to put my ultimate hope in You alone, in Your faithful name I pray,
Amen.
