The Christian life is a journey of waiting – waiting for the glory that awaits us when we see Christ face to face and enter eternity. In this life, we experience trials and suffering as we walk this pilgrim path. But the texts reminds us that we do not walk alone. We have hope and the Holy Spirit to strengthen us as we endure on our journey.
If we can keep our eyes fixed on the ultimate end – the beatific vision of seeing Christ’s glorious face – it will sustain us through the hardest parts of the way. Let us consider today the experience of Christian waiting, the strength that enables us to wait well, and the glorious end that awaits those who persevere to the end.
- The experience of waiting – Christians experience suffering and groaning in this life while we wait for the glory that is to come. Creation itself also groans.
- The strength to wait – We have strength to endure our waiting through the sure nature of our hope in Christ and through the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us.
- The end of our waiting – Our lives are headed toward glory. When Jesus returns or we die, we will see his face and be free from suffering. The sight of Christ will make all our past sufferings seem minimal.
- The meaning of glory – Glory refers to the state we will be in when we see Christ’s face and are made perfect. We will have unbroken fellowship with him and our suffering and sin will be no more.
As Christians, we are called to endure suffering with hopeful endurance, sustained by the promise of eternal glory. Will you allow the hope of seeing Christ’s face to transform the way you walk through this life? Will you let the Spirit intercede through your sighs and groans, directing your steps day by day? Fix your eyes on the joy set before you – the face of Jesus – and let it strengthen you to persevere in faith, hope and love.
Live each moment in the light of that eternal glory, and the sufferings of this present time will fall away like dust as you draw ever closer to the finish line. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.