As consumers we like guarantees. We like the certainty that something will work, or that our desire for what we’ve acquired will be affirmed. Yet in our own lives we experience failure and frustration on a daily basis. So how can we be certain of our redemption in Jesus Christ when so often we sense the inner cry: “It’s not working?”
As long as we are in these frail tents habituated in sin (“the flesh”) our hope is still that – a confident expectation. When Christ has returned and we are perfectly like Him and perpetually with Him, our hope will be a fulfilled reality. But until then we persevere in certain anticipation, rejoicing in hope.
We can be assured because we have a Guarantee. Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The third Person of the Trinity residing in us is our guarantee (II Cor. 1:2; 5:5; Eph. 1:14) – the anchor of our confidence. We can know that we have been born of God and are partakers of the divine nature, having been made the righteousness of God in Him – failures and frustrations notwithstanding. What deep and profound truths are ours to be acquainted with… truths to meditate on… truth to abide in.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly: consume the doctrines of Scripture so that the transforming power of God enters the blood stream of your habits of thought and your whole being is nourished in the riches of His grace. This is how we draw near to God; this is how we abide in Christ; this is how we walk in the Spirit. This is spirituality! It is not mechanical, it is relational. It is not something that can be quantified because it is the loving, fervent pursuit of communion with the One who made you and reconciled you to Himself.
You awakened us to delight in Your praise; for You made us for Yourself, “
and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.
(Augustine – Confessions)