Scripture

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

~Colossians 1:27, NLT

Quote

Christianity is a religion of hope; a faith that always looks forward. To the believer, the best is yet to be.

~J.I. Packer {Knowing God, p.216}

C.S. Lewis said, “What lies before us is infinitely better than that which lies behind.” Packer contends that the doctrine of ADOPTION gives us great consolation and hope for three reasons: [1] We are promised an inheritance. Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory {Romans 8:17}. It is hard to get the facts, but one report says that John D. Rockefeller left 200 million to his five children. His net worth was more but he left a lot to charity. In a day and age where people fight over the inheritance, I am glad to say, it is no problem for me. My Father has infinitely more wealth than John D. Rockefeller and I will get more than my share. I have sympathy for those who fight over land and trust funds because they can’t keep them. They are fighting for nothing. This kind of greed tears families apart. I don’t have to worry about earthy inheritances because I have something vastly superior. [2] We are going to share in Christ’s glory. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as he really is [I John 3:2]. As Paul said, “Christ in me is my hope of glory.” The writer of Hebrews said, God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. Heaven will be a place of glory. [3] We are going to have a grand reunion. Adoption is about family. We are children of God. I do get concerned about those who talk about seeing mother and daddy in heaven but don’t mention Jesus. Jesus is what makes heaven heaven. The devil was once in heaven, but he refused to bow to Jesus. I am not saying that family is not important, but what I am saying is that Jesus makes heaven possible. I like this poem by Richard Baxter:

My knowledge of that life {heaven} is small;

The eye of faith is dim:

But it’s enough that Christ knows all;

And I shall be with him.

Extra

I want to give thanks for another LORD’s day and the opportunity to preach the gospel. God is good. Good attendance yesterday, very encouraging.

Mrs. Leona Burden is very low. She is still at the Terrace in Princeville. She did talk to Belinda and Jim yesterday while I was there, and she told me she remembered the red shirt. She is not in pain; just tired and weak.

I hope you have a great week and thanks for reading the blog.