The Hope of Glory

The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now revealed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, Christ among you, the hope of glory

Colossians 1:26-27

During Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is the time when we see the fulfillment of God's promise. This is also the mystery that Paul was talking about which was only revealed when Jesus died and rose from the dead. The only hope of OUR glory is in following Jesus - living a life where Jesus is among us. This means that our lives are focused on Jesus. We reach out to him. We listen to him and allow him to heal us and serve us. This is the only way to glory.

This was a mystery before the resurrection of Jesus. People were searching for meaning for their lives. The Jews in Jesus' time tried to find fulfillment in the Law. The pagans tried to find it through philosophy and idol worship. But as Paul says in the same letter, "In his body lives the fullness of divinity and in him you too find your own fulfillment" Col 2: 7. Our fulfillment - our sense of meaning in life is found only in Jesus. The Law and the idol worship are only reflections of the true reality - Jesus (Col 2: 18).

To live a life of hope is to make Jesus everything and in everything (Col 4: 11). This means making Jesus the centre of our lives. Everything should revolve around him. We live according to his Spirit. And when we do, he transforms us into his image. And when he transforms us to his image, he glorifies himself. And when he is glorified, we too are glorified. The only way to obtain glory is to live a life in Christ.

This Easter, let us strive to strip off our old behaviour and put on a new self which will progress towards true knowledge (Col 4:9-10).

And this is the only way to true glory.