Finding Glorious Hope in the Bible
The spiritual condition of the unbeliever is “having no hope and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12 KJV). Yet, as a Christian, you may not enjoy socio-political privileges as an effect of your commitment to Christ. Understand that your relationship with Jesus Christ will not make you more popular in the world. There is no promise of earthly wealth, power, and/or prestige to the one who follows Christ; therefore, the world sees faith in Christ as foolishness because it is a hindrance to its terms, conditions, and offers. The Bible has a much different standard of living than the world. Many in the world don’t want to read the Bible because they think the teachings of the Bible will make them weak and/or weird. This perspective and attitude are because of unbelief.
In contrast, a Christian who embraces the truth of the gospel knows the presence of Christ in the human heart is the hope of glory. “ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”, Colossians 1:27 KJV, and knows the true and lasting advantage of the eternal security of the soul. Moreover, through Bible reading and study, the surety of the spiritual blessings that the Lord has in store for believers in glory is evidenced. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:3 KJV, “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” and in Romans 15:4 KJV, “ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Bible reading and meditation open our eyes to future reality. Testimony of God’s power and goodness in the history and experience of God’s people throughout generations gives us assurance that God will never fail us. This is, yet, another reason to read and study the Scriptures. Do you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to illumine your eyes and mind to experience the glorious hope found in Ephesians 1:18-23 KJV, which says, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” ?
When our affection is firmly attached to this glorious hope, materialism and worldliness cannot set their foothold in our lives. Therefore, Bible study, meditation, and prayer must be practiced in our lives if we are to focus on our glorious future. My prayer for you is Romans 15:13 KJV, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
