Christ In You The Hope Of Glory!

     Even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory: whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ.
                                      Colossians 1:26-28

     There is a book written by A. W. Tozer that is titled, "Man the Dwelling Place of God." This is something however, that is often overlooked in our Christian walk. We often look at the above verse, at least I know that I have, and think of the "hope of glory" as going to heaven some day. Indeed, for those of us who know and follow Christ in this life, we will someday spend eternity with Him, sharing in all of the glories of His heavenly kingdom. But we often fail to realize the full implication of what it truly means to be indwelt by the living God; to be full of His Spirit, and to be conscious of His glorious presence. This is what David refers to when He declares that the one thing he sought after was to dwell in the house of the Lord all of his days (Psalm 27:4). To dwell in the secret place of the most high (Psalm 91:1) has now been made possible to us through Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to enter in to the most holy place, by the blood of Jesus, and through the veil of His flesh (Hebrews 10:19-20). We are now the living temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (1 Cor 6:19-20). Think about it. Christ in you the hope of glory! We share in intimate fellowship with Him while we sojourn upon this earth, awaiting the final consummation, when we will see Him face to face.

Innocence.

     I will wash my hands in innocency; so I will compass thine altar, O Jehovah;
     That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all thy wonderous works.
     Jehovah, I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth.
                                          Psalm 26:6-8  

     Jesus tells us that it is the pure in heart who will see God (Matt 5:8). The Psalmist desired the presence of God above all else (Psalm 27:4). He understood that the stain of sin would mar that fellowship he sought after. His desire was to remain separated from all that defiled, and to live in the presence of God, in  adoration and thanksgiving, in awe of His glory.
     
     "Father God, may we like the Psalmist, desire you above all else. May we dwell in innocence all the days of our lives, in the glory of your presence."

Integrity.

     Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering,
     Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; try my heart and my mind.
                                        Psalm 26:1-2

     Integrity is a mark of an individual in love with the Savior. The one who longs to see Jesus will purify himself, as Christ is pure (1 John 3:2-3). As sin blocks our fellowship with God, it is essential that we allow His Spirit to try our hearts, to point out any impurity in us. Let us lay aside all that weighs us down, and the sin that so easily besets us and run the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2),