"Our Coming Glory"

“We who have received the Spirit as the first-fruit of God’s promised inheritance are inwardly groaning while awaiting the finalizing of our heavenly adoption, which is the raising, redeeming, and glorification of our bodies” (Romans 8:23 – paraphrased). “It is true that we who are children of God have received the Holy Spirit as a pledge from God that glory awaits, but the indwelling Spirit is no guarantee that we will not suffer from maladies in the flesh. The outward man of the Christian will waste away and perish by reason of age and disease the same as that of the skeptic or unbeliever. “For this reason we cannot assume that because one suffers, he is out of harmony with God. Saints endure pain the same as other sinners. The difference lies in the fact that sinners suffer without hope. The Holy Spirit does not prevent aging nor eliminate hurting or discomfort, but the fellowship of the spirit will strengthen one to endure such things and will provide him a happier outlook on life here and hereafter. “The indwelling Spirit is a divine deposit given to us as a constant reminder that God does not forget! Our adoption is not yet complete! It involves the whole man, and the physical part has not yet been redeemed. By His death on the cross Jesus ransomed the spirit, the inner man. He purchased the body, but did not redeem it because it is mortal and therefore still subject to degeneration, decay, and death. We were bought with a price. We belong to God in body and spirit. Our bodies will be redeemed by the resurrection, at the end of time, when Jesus returns!” (W. Carl Ketcherside – Adapted.) Spiritually there is great joy in our hearts because we have received Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, and baptism. By His Word of truth we have been born again and by His shed blood we have been made clean! Yet in our fleshly bodies we experience pain and suffering. But the day is coming when all that will change and we will be glorified and receive our new “house not made with hands”, our heavenly habitation! The presence of God’s Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will soon be clothed in glory. Every time we pray, every time we worship, every time we confess Jesus, witness to others, find sheer delight in Bible truth read or preached, experience spiritual growth and power and remedies and solutions not of our own doing, it is the Holy Spirit moving in our hearts! And by His very presence we are reminded that soon God will complete in us what He began long ago when first we believed! O, what glory that will be! So, let us endure our pain, sorrow, and suffering a little longer – it will soon be over! Larry Atkin, Preacher