Daily Devotionals

Music For the Soul

Devotional: July 31st

THE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN HOPE

Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. - Titus 2:13

It is interesting to notice the various phases under which the future perfecting of the Christian life and felicity in Heaven is set forth in the New Testament. Sometimes we read of the object of our hope as being the resurrection from the dead; sometimes we read of the "hope of righteousness"; sometimes we read of the "hope of eternal life"; sometimes of the "hope of the glory of God"; sometimes of the " hope of salvation." But all these are but the many facets of the one jewel, flashing many-coloured and yet harmonious light. Peter adds another general expression when he sums up the felicities and perfectness of that future life in this remarkable and unusual phrase, "the grace that is to be brought."

Now, we generally, in our ordinary, popular, religious speech, draw a broad distinction between "grace" and "glory." But the use of the word here, though unusual, and just because it is unusual, is instructive and significant. It suggests to us the great thought that all the lustrous light that lies beyond, to the furthest distances of eternity, is the free gift of love, undeserved, and bestowing its treasures on those who have no claim to it, at the end of countless millennium’s, any more than they had at the beginning. " Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life"; and no man of the countless nations of the blessed can say, " Give me the portion for which I have worked," but all must bow and say, "Give me from Thine own loving heart that which I do not deserve," " the grace that is to be brought at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

Then there is another thought suggested by this remarkable expression, and that is the essential identity of the Christian life here and hereafter. We are accustomed to include all the virtues and blessedness’s that here belong to faith and love under that one common designation of "grace," while, on the other hand, we name the future heavenly state "glory." But, according to the Apostle, grace and glory are one in essence. The tender green of the springing corn is the prophet of the yellow full ear. What we have here is a spark which shall be fanned yonder into a radiant flame. But the difference is one of degree, and not of kind. "Grace" is "glory" in the bud; " glory "is " grace " in the fruit.

There are many good people who are so unduly conscious of their imperfections and sins that they think it is almost wrong in them to assume the tone of steadfast anticipation which the New Testament sets before us as proper for us, and who scarcely venture to say, "I hope to enter into that rest." Brother! we are neglecting a plain duty and impoverishing ourselves unnecessarily, by the want of a treasure which belongs to us, unless we are making conscious efforts for our increase in hope as in faith and charity.