“Stan,” I began, “does it ever seem to you that life is just one big mystery?”
“There was a point in my life where that was certainly true,” he responded, “but not any more.”
“And I think,” he continued, “that the apostle Paul addressed that very point in his letter to the church in Colossae.”
“Good,” I responded. “What did he have to say about it?”
“My understanding of what he wrote,” Stan replied, “is that what he described as the mystery of God that was hidden in past ages and generations was revealed in Christ Jesus.”
“And what was the hidden mystery that is no longer hidden?” I asked.
“The Risen Christ whose spirit dwells in each believer giving him or her the hope of glory.”
“Hope?” I replied. “Just hope?”
“It is hope,” Stan replied, “not in the sense of wishful thinking, but hope in the sense of absolute certainty. Something you can bank on.”
“Christ’s finished work on the cross opened the door to everyone who believes to have life eternally with God when it is time to step into eternity, or, in other words, to get on the train. In addition, each believer has the opportunity to draw ever closer to and know God on this side of eternity while he or she is waiting for the train.”
“Life does not have to remain a mystery. God has shed His light on it.”
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Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of the Spirit of the Risen Christ to live in me because of my acceptance of Christ’s finished work on the cross. Thank you that His presence in me ends the mystery that existed before I accepted your free gift. I ask for your help in being able to make this truth known to those who do not know so that they, too, will no longer be in the dark of the mystery of separation from you. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 