“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

As we live our lives, Jesus gives us encouragement as we follow Him. He said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) When we learn from Jesus, He not only teaches, but He yokes Himself with us and shows us how to do what we are to learn. He also promises to be with us always. This is His promise as He sends us to make disciples. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) All this can happen because Jesus has come to make His home in us. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. . .. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:18,20)

When Paul meets Jesus on the Damascus Road, he began to learn from Jesus. As he learned from Jesus, he was commissioned to make disciples of the Gentiles, that is, the nations. This is his testimony to the church at Colossae. “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” (Colossians 1:25-26) The mystery he speaks of is the hope which God has been preparing and bringing to man since the first sin. Sin is what brought separation between God and man. Now, because of Jesus Christ, hope could be realized. The mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) The mystery is the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ in all who have come by faith to Jesus Christ.

Hope comes to us because Jesus is present in our lives. When Jesus is in our lives, He brings an abundant and living hope. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5) Hope comes through a new birth and an inheritance.

When we come to Christ, we are born again through a spiritual birth. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:5-6)

When we are born again, we are given an inheritance. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21:3-7)

The hope God established as He protected man from the Tree of Life is now established in each believer because of the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ. Our new life in Him is the hope of God when He makes all things new. In God’s glory we now not only drink from the water of life, but we can eat from the Tree of life. “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.” This is the hope of glory, which is in each believer where Christ dwells.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block