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.

Kept From Stumbling.

     Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and forevermore. Amen.
                                             Jude 1:24-25

     What a wonderful promise to us, that God Himself will bring us safely home, to stand in His glorious presence, complete in Him, beyond reproach. In this life, we travel a dangerous road, with temptations and trials on every side. The world seeks to draw our hearts away from our Lord, with all of its vanity and pride. Yet we see in this and other numerous scriptures, that in Christ we have all we need to remain free from spot or stain. In Christ we have the power to overcome temptations. His grace is more than enough for every need, to those who through faith, are made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).
     Able to keep us from stumbling! He will set us before His presence, without blemish. This is the overcoming life. We were once mired in sin, unable to change. But through Christ, we are now free. We can live upright lives, beyond reproach. We can know what it means to have a clean conscience; to be able to lay down in sleep without our hearts condemning us. What a blessed thing, to be so guarded by Jesus Christ.
     He has called us to live holy, upright lives. Faithful is He that has called us, and faithful is to do it (1 Thess 5:23-24)!

Loving Jesus.

     Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
                                     John  14:23

     True biblical love is not self seeking (1 Cor 13:5). It seeks the good of others with no thought of self. Often we see someone do something for somebody else that seems kind, but it is done with the thought of some benefit for self. This is not love. Many try to keep God's commandments with self preservation in mind, but this only amounts to selfishness.
     The one who loves Jesus will, out of that love, live to please Him. Their desire is for Him and His glory. They live to promote the highest possible good that they can, for Him.
     We see even in our own relationships, that when we love someone with a unselfish love, that we will go to great lengths to please that individual.
     It is therefore only natural that if we love Jesus, we will obey His commands (John 14:15, 21).
     Look at the promise we have from the Savior, to come and dwell with us in intimate fellowship, if we truly love Him, with an obedient love.

Our Exceeding Great Reward.

     Fear Nor Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
                                     Genesis 15:1b

     Just as God spoke these words to Abram, telling him that He was all he needed, God speaks these words to us as well-

     And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
                                       Hebrews 11:6

     It is not enough for us to mentally assent to the fact that God exists. It is not enough to trust Him with our needs and desires. 
     God is calling us to seek after Him. We must believe that He exists, and because the Almighty God exists, and has revealed Himself to us, we must seek after Him. We are called to pursue Him with a determination that will not say no. He is our great and exceeding reward. Nothing on this earth can compare to the glory of knowing God in an intimate manner. To possess the Almighty God who dwells in the high and holy place, in our humble and contrite hearts, is man's highest honor (Isaiah 57:15).
     If we would  lose everything we owned, and yet possess God, we would have all.

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),

A Promise to the Thisty.

     The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I Jehovah will answer them, I, the God of Israel will not forsake them.
                                   Isaiah 41:17

     What a wonderful promise we have from the Lord. He will not forsake those who are desperate for him.
     The things of this world cannot satisfy the longing in our souls that only He can fill!
     See the wonderful promise of refreshing; rivers on the bare heights, fountains in the valleys, the wilderness a pool, and the dry land springs of water (Isaiah 41:18).
     He is more than enough for each and every situation we may find ourselves in. He truly satisfies the longing soul.

Thirsting For God.

     As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee O God. When shall I come and appear before God?
                                   Psalm 42:1-2

     Intense thirst will drive one to desperation. This is what the relentless pursuit of God involves; desperation for Him.
     The one who in desperation seeks the presence of God as his one and only desire, will find Him (Psalm 27:4), and find refreshing for his soul.