God willed to make known [to His saints] what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
— Colossians 1:27

 

 

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
— Colossians 3:4

The work that God is doing within us today is mysterious and hidden. Neither the new birth in our spirit and transformation in our soul can be seen, either by us or by others. We certainly hope they will realize there’s been a change within us, but even so, that change is not something visible to the eyes.

That will not be the case when we are glorified. While the new birth and transformation are inward, glorification is outward; it means that, just as the divine life has worked in our spirit and in our soul, it now permeates even our physical body! When that happens, no one will be able to question any longer whether we are really the children of God, for all will be able to see it right before their very eyes. This is what will happen, as Paul says:

When He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
— 2 Thessalonians 1:10

And just like the new birth, this will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52); what a day that will be, praise the Lord! So, both the beginning (i.e., the new birth) and the ending (i.e., glorification) of our Christian life happen in a moment, whereas the middle (i.e., transformation) is an ongoing, life-long process.

At this point, we will be fully conformed to the image of Christ in every part of our being, spirit, and soul, and body. Thus, He will be the firstborn Son of God, an we will be His many brothers, fully qualified to be with Him in glory for eternity. Praise the Lord for His marvelous work of grace in us, and His marvelous plan for our eternal destiny!

And is it so! I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory—thought beyond all thought!
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought!

Oh, Jesus, Lord, who loved me like to Thee?
Fruit of Thy work, with Thee, too, there to see
Thy glory, Lord, while endless ages roll,
Myself the prize and travail of Thy soul.

Yet it must be: Thy love had not its rest
Were Thy redeemed not with Thee fully blest;
That love that gives not as the world, but shares
All it possesses with its loved co-heirs.

Nor I alone; Thy loved ones, all complete
In glory, round Thee there with joy shall meet;
All like Thee, for Thy glory like Thee, Lord,
Object supreme of all, by all adored.