Can you see the end? Because for believers, that’s what glory is – that one day when we will stand in the presence of God and of his assembled people; when he makes everything new and all things are as they should be. Writing to his friends in Colossae, Paul wants to lift their eyes to this future, while at the same time reminding them (and us) that a glimpse of this glorious future is given to the world around us through the Church; that the presence of Christ in us is the hope, the certain presence, that the promised future will come to pass (Colossians 1:27).
Jesus gave us a new command, to love one another, boundlessly, selflessly. This is what Christ in us means: the active presence of his love demonstrated by those who call themselves his disciples, the evidence of which is the transformational effect it has on our relationships. It is eternal life that starts now.
When Paul writes to his friend Timothy, he urges him to take hold of this life (1 Timothy 6:12). The image is one of being saved. Imagine you fall in the water and a hand reaches down to grab you. You reach up and grab that hand, you take hold of it and you do not let it go because you know that gripping is what will save you. When we confess Christ, we are saved eternally, but we are also saved so that we can transform the world that we are part of. Instead of slovenly chasing after our own ease and comforts, perhaps we diligently and intentionally choose to invest our time, energy and talents into ministries that will help to grow the work of the kingdom. Maybe instead of envying the circumstances and success of others, we exhibit kindness and celebrate with and for them. Instead of gluttonously consuming all we can, we practise temperance, so that more of our stuff is available to be used for the kingdom. We stop being angry and spiteful with those who harm us and engage instead in reconciliation. We take hold of our inner fantasy worlds and practise purity and fidelity in our relationships. We stop greedily acquiring the security of money and power and instead generously give these things away. And we replace an ‘I’- centred pride by humbly acknowledging that Jesus is Lord.
It’s not always easy. As Paul tells Timothy, it is a fight. But it’s not one we do alone. We have each other. And we have Christ in us, filling us with love through the Spirit so we need never run on empty (Romans 5:5). But it’s more than just changing our own community of believers – it is also about changing the world we find ourselves in. If we genuinely live with Christ in us, then it is a sign of hope for the world too. God has chosen to work through the Church. The word ‘church’ speaks of a gathering of believers, but more than that, it hints at a group of people called to assemble together in the marketplace for a purpose. And our purpose is to communicate, through our love, the saving message of Jesus – that all men and women can be reconciled to God. We carry this message and it is revealed to the world through us.
Zooming out from that one verse in Colossians, this small group of verses from Colossians 1asks us some other questions: Paul talks about his commission, given to him by God. It is a purpose that has taken over his life. A question for each of us to consider is how surrendered to God’s purposes are we? Do we chase after them as the priorities that shape our life choices, or are they just another thing that gets juggled among all of our other commitments? Are we seeking to see God’s kingdom come or are we asking him to bless what we would like to see happen?
Paul talks about serving the Church, even suffering for it. So maybe we need to ask ourselves if we too are ready to serve the church we are part of, ready to lay down our preferences and aspirations for the sake of a community that is bigger than us. How does that translate in your own service in church – working with children and families, helping them meet with God? It can be difficult to put others before ourselves, particularly when we’re working in an area of mission which can be resourcepoor and often comes at the bottom of the list of priorities.
But thinking once more about Christ in us, we should ask ourselves if we are part of a community that loves. God himself is a community of perfect, selfless love. The Church should be a reflection of that to the world, so do we feel loved in our church and are we loving others or just those we like? Finally, if we have the hope of glory, if we believe this world pales to the world that is to come, are we making sacrificial choices with an eternal perspective? Can you see the end?
Gordon Cheung is assistant pastor at St Silas’ Church, Glasgow
