OUR FUTURE GLORY

FRIDAY 08 OCTOBER 2021

Paul said that our earthly experiences can never be compared to the future glory that will be revealed in us. He noted that even the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. In more detailed explanation, all of creation has been subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it. For this reason, the creation itself groan to be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Reference: Romans 8:23 English Standard Version (ESV) "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

All of creation was subjected to corruption long ago because of sin and the Devil, of course. And so, it groans in its bondage to decay. Decay here is the latin word, "Interitus", which means ruin. If we study the word further, it suggests corruption, rottenness, dry-rot, decline, feebleness of age, affliction, grief, moroseness, wasting, pestilence and epidemic. We witness all of these in this world. For this reason, the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Interestingly, apostle Paul expressed that we that are in Christ also groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are His children. So this means that our bodies will also be set free from decay. That's the meaning of the latter part, "we groan inwardly as we eagerly wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Even though we are of God now, as long as we live and function in the earthen vessel which is subject to decay, we, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us.

Paul described our current human bodies as wasting away or being brought to decay, even as we grow old on earth. He mentioned this in 2 Corinthians 4:16: "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day" (ESV). Whether or not we believe it, the external framework of our earthen vessels, which is the physical body, is undergoing a gradual process of decay, as we get older but for those in Christ, Paul noted that our inner self, which is our inward man, is being renewed day by day. In other words, the "inward man," through the Word and Spirit of God, experience constant renewal, thus gaining fresh degree of Christ's image. . Why is this so? This is because, we as Christians, have the firstfruits of the Spirit. By first fruits, I mean that the Holy Spirit is the first instalment of our future inheritance and glory in the Kingdom of God. He is the foretaste of our future glory. In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV), Paul noted that He is the guarantee of what is to come. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) also reads, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory."

In line with our future glory, our bodies are groaning for redemption and already, we have been sealed for its day of redemption. This seal denotes our eternal security because we belong to God. No wonder Ephesians 4:30 (NASB) warns, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

Beloved we have been marked or sealed by the Holy Spirit in anticipation of our future glory, when we shall meet with Christ. For now, everything God made is longing to be free from ruin and to have the freedom and glory that belong to God's children. Therefore we must keep our eyes focused and stayed on Jesus, through the lens of hope and by the Spirit, because we have a glorious, eternal future ahead of us (see Romans 15:13). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:3-4.

Guided Prayer: Precious Father, thank you for the precious hope and future glory you've given me in Christ Jesus. By meditating on the Scriptures, I position myself to function in your glory in a world that is subject to corruption and decay. I abound in grace and I'm constantly energized in my inner man, thereby gaining fresh degrees of spiritual strength, as the Spirit enables. By continuous development of my spiritual life, my spirit is sustained in a position of dominant power and influence over all works of the enemy, and the corrupting influences of this present world, in Jesus' Name, Amen!