In light of
eternity we should view the cost of suffering with Jesus Christ now as
insignificant in view of the glory that lies ahead of us. By glory Paul meant the glory that we will
experience at our glorification. Our
glorification is the third and final aspect of our salvation in which God will
deliver us from the presence of sin forever.
Paul
broadened his view of glorification to include all of creation. He personified it as leaning forward eagerly
in anticipation of the great day when God will fully redeem it too. But the whole creation is waiting for their
unveiling at Christ’s coming, for they are connected with Christ, one with Him,
and are to be glorified with Him at His coming.
Because of
the Fall God subjected the whole creation to “futility” or “frustration.” Consequently it never reaches the perfection
that He originally intended it to achieve.
Paul did not
have the annihilation of the present earth in view, which will happen at the
end of Messiah’s earthly reign.
The saints
share the sense of groaning and anticipation that Paul described the whole
creation feeling. God will fully redeem
both it and us finally.
God’s gift
of the Spirit at the beginning of the believer’s Christian life is His pledge
that he will give us salvation in the future.
When will
that happen? It will happen at the
Rapture, when He glorifies our bodies by making them immortal.
In the
meantime, we should look forward with hope to what God has promised and
patiently endure our present sufferings.
We should continue with the attitude of hope of the Christian and
knowing that there is more to come for him than anything else that has already
shown itself.
Dear God,
forgive us of our sins, let us enrich our lives and everyone around us with
Your love and understanding each day of our lives. Let us walk in the light of Your shadow and
spread love throughout the end of time.
Thank you, God. Amen.
Rita
O’Kelley
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