Colin Smith

[Christ comes] “to be glorified in His holy people...  This includes you, because you believed.”   2 Thessalonians 2:10

I can see, and begin to imagine, how God’s people will be glorified in Christ.  One day we’ll have a resurrected body like Him.  We’ll have no more pain, sickness or sorrow and a body that’s adapted for eternal life.  We’ll also have a soul like Christ that’s free from every inclination to sin.  We’ll love what Christ loves as Christ loves!

But how will Christ be glorified in us?  What does this mean?  At the end of the Bible, the Apostle John was given a vision, recorded in the book of Revelation.  John saw God’s people in the presence of Jesus, and he records what was most striking to him…

Christ will be glorified by the vast number of the redeemed

“I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language.” Revelation 7:9

The first thing John noted was the sheer number of these people.  Christ has redeemed people from every corner of the planet.  They’ve been drawn from every generation of history.  John says nobody could possibly count them!  On the last day, Christ will see the fruit that came from His suffering and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11).

In my second year of ministry, I was invited to speak at “The Greater Clacton Convention for the Deepening of Spiritual Life.”  So, Karen and I drove 100 miles to attend this convention.  When we finally arrived at the wooden hut, we found a total of five people in attendance.  My wife reminds me of this often for the purpose of promoting humility!

We’ve all been at events that were disappointing, because only a few people showed up.  We say “Is this it?”  No one will be saying “Is this it?” in the presence of Jesus.  This will be larger than any gathering you have ever seen or imagined in your life.  And every person there will have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Christ will be glorified by unique difficulties His people have endured

“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation.” Revelation 7:14

Come closer and you discover that this vast company is made up of people who have each faced some special difficulty in life.  Here is someone who struggled with depression all her life.  But not now—there is a light and joy in her face she’d never known before.  Over there is someone who lacked confidence.  He battled against fear all his life.  But not now—there he stands sure and certain in Christ.

You look further and see someone who was scarred by a great evil inflicted by someone else.  It troubled them all their days.  But not now—there they stand in the presence of Jesus, every tear has been wiped away.  Each person endured a lifelong struggle arising from their temperament or background, but in every case Christ brought them through.

Christ will be glorified by the complete transformation of inveterate sinners

“They were wearing white robes.”  Revelation 7:9

I use the word “inveterate” because I want you to remember that our sins are not a small thing.  “Inveterate” means “long established,” “deep rooted” or “habitual,” so it is a good word to describe the human condition.  By nature we are inveterate sinners.

But sinners will be “shut out from the presence of the Lord.”  The people in the presence of Jesus were sinners too, so what are they doing in the presence of the Lord?  Why are they dressed in white?  John gives the answer, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

Look who’s in the crowd—David the adulterer, Moses the murderer, Peter the denier, Paul the persecutor and you and me with all that we’ve done… washed in the blood of the lamb, cleansed by Christ, dressed in the white robes of His righteousness, holy as God is holy, in His presence without fault and with great joy.

Only Jesus could accomplish such a transformation.  If your sins are many, you have every reason to come to Christ today:  Your salvation will bring great glory to Him.  Put your trust in Christ and He will be glorified in you, forever.

This LifeKey is based on the message “christ will be glorified in you,” by Pastor Colin S. Smith, delivered January 16, 2011, from the series “staying the course when you’re tired of the battle.” Colin currently serves as Senior Pastor of the The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is committed to preaching the Bible in a way that nourishes the soul by directing attention to Jesus Christ.

To receive the LifeKeys weekly eDevotional, scroll to the bottom of unlockingthebible.org and sign up.  You can also follow Colin Smith and Unlocking the Bible on facebook and twitter.

“[Moses] sees the form of the Lord.  I speak to him face to face.” Numbers 12:8

Korah could never accept that.  He was fundamentally opposed to the idea that God would place anybody in such a position.  Korah thought everybody could come to God in their own way…

Why is there only one High Priest? 

“The whole community is holy, every one of them… the Lord is with them.  Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”  Numbers 12:3

There’s only one answer to Korah’s question: Because God said so.  The issue boils down to authority.  Who says how you can come to God—is it God or is it you?  God tells us how we can come to Him.  The fundamental issue here is the authority of God.

That takes us to the heart of the Gospel.  In the New Testament, we’re introduced to Jesus.  He not only saw the form of God, but He was in the form of God.  It wasn’t just that He spoke the Word of God—He is the Word of God.

When He came into the world, Jesus faced the same kind of rebellion that Korah led.  Different groups of people banded together to oppose Him, they accused Him of being “out of his mind,” and the leaders of the people rose up and said, “We will not have this man reign over us.”

The words of God the Father point to Jesus

"This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him!"  Mark 9:7

The gospel of Mark tells us about a day when Jesus went up a mountain with three of His disciples, and they saw the radiance of His glory.  They heard the audible voice of God. 

What did they hear?  God the Father said, “There’s nobody else like Him.”  Jesus died—the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God, and no one else can do that.  If you try to come before God without Him, you will take a plunge to disaster.

The sign of the resurrection points to Jesus

“He has been declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:4

God gave a sign indicating that Jesus is the Son of God.  It wasn’t that the ground swallowed Him up; it was that the ground couldn’t hold Him, and on the third day, He rose from the dead!

Many people today take the same position as Korah, “How can you say that we can only come to God though Jesus Christ?”  That’s Korah’s rebellion and it’s a direct route to spiritual disaster.  Aren’t all the people holy?  No, they’re not.  Isn’t God with all the people?  No, He’s not. 

How are you going to stand before God on the last day?  Are you going to be like Korah, coming to God in your own way?  That’s a sure road to disaster.  The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ is the Holy One of God.  He came from God and, through Christ, God has made a way for you to come to Him. 

This LifeKEY is based on the message, "Submit to Authority,"  by Pastor Colin S. Smith, originally preached on February 2, 2003, from the series "Deckchairs on the Titanic."

Colin currently serves as Senior Pastor of the The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is committed to preaching the Bible in a way that nourishes the soul by directing attention to Jesus Christ.
To receive the LifeKeys weekly eDevotional, scroll to the bottom of unlockingthebible.org and sign up.  You can also follow Colin Smith and Unlocking the Bible on facebook and twitter.

“My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth… whoever finds me will kill me.” Genesis 4:13

It would not have been surprising if God had ended Cain’s life right there. But in God’s mercy, the world’s first murderer is given another chance.

Cain, even after this terrible crime, God is speaking to you.  He has not cut you off.  There’s still an opportunity for reconciliation.  Accept your punishment, confess your sin and turn to Him in repentance.  The darkest moment of your life could become your turning point. 

Instead of taking ownership for what he’d done, Cain begins to wallow in self-pity.  God was gracious and protected Cain, but he made a wretched choice, going out from the presence of the Lord. The last thing we hear is that Cain built a city known for music and industry, culture and commerce—but no mention of God. 

How Can We Avoid Cain’s Plunge to Disaster?

Never underestimate the power of sin

“If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you…” Genesis 4:7

The quickest way to disaster is to allow sin in your life and then say, “I can handle it.”  Sin is like a wild animal.  When you get angry, when you don’t get your way, when your pride is hurt—it is crouching at the door.

When Cain refused to do what is right, he set himself up for failure.  God spoke to Him, but he turned away and opened up the floodgates to a power that was far greater than he could control.

You may say, “I get pretty angry, but I would never murder anybody.”  When you allow sin to take root in your life, you never know where it will lead you.  Sin is a power.  You must master it or it will master you. The only way to master sin is in the name and the power of Jesus Christ.

Don’t pretend to love God if you hate your brother

“Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.  Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you… First, go and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:21

I have no doubt that Jesus was thinking about Cain when he said this.  There are times when anger is appropriate, but this was not one of them. Cain’s anger came from jealousy, selfishness and his own stubborn pride, and he refused to do anything about it.

Don’t pretend to love God if you hate your brother, “Anyone who says ‘I love God’ and hates his brother is a liar” (1 John 1:20), and when John looks for an example of this, he chooses Cain, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother” (1 John 1:12).

Then John draws a contrast between Cain and Christ, “This is how we know what love is… Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (1 John 1:16).  Cain took his brother’s life.  Christ laid down His life for His brothers.

Come to God in God’s appointed way

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” Genesis 4:7

All the Old Testament sacrifices point us to the one sacrifice—where Jesus Christ laid down His life on the cross for our sins.  That’s how we’re to come to God.  You cannot come in any other name, including your own, offering God your achievements.  But if you come to God confessing your sin and trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for you, you will receive mercy.

Make a different choice

“Cain went out from the Lord’s presence.” Genesis 4:16

Suppose when God invited Cain to do what’s right, he’d said, “Lord, I’m struggling with anger towards my brother.  It’s so powerful, like a fire inside me.  I need your power.  I have this hatred inside of me, I need your love.  I have this pride within me.  I want to make a big impression and what I want drives me all the time.  I need your peace.”  Suppose he’d put his faith and trust in God to do for him what he could not do for himself.

Even after killing his brother, Cain could have taken a different course.  He could have turned away from self-pity, taken ownership of the deed he had done, faced the consequences and then thrown himself on the mercy of God saying, “I have sinned, and I stand before you without excuse.  Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.”  He didn’t do that.  But you can today.

This LifeKey is based on the message “Deal With Your Anger,” by Pastor Colin S. Smith, on January 12, 2003, from the series “Deckchairs on the Titanic.”

Colin currently serves as Senior Pastor of the The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is committed to preaching the Bible in a way that nourishes the soul by directing attention to Jesus Christ.
To receive the LifeKeys weekly eDevotional, scroll to the bottom of unlockingthebible.org and sign up.  You can also follow Colin Smith and Unlocking the Bible on facebook and twitter.

“It is finished.”  John 19:30

There was only one person in the history of the world who could ever truly say, “It is finished.”  None of us will be able to say that when we die, because none of us are able to say it while we live.  None of us will say to God, “I brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.”  I wish I could say it, but I haven’t been able to say this a single day of my life!   

As a Christian, you’ve begun the work of all the commands, but you haven’t finished the work of any!  Every time we come before God we say, “I’ve done the things I ought not to have done and I haven’t done the things I ought to have done.”  That will never change this side of heaven.  You may grow in the Christian life, but you’ll never move beyond being “a believing sinner.” 

Jesus completed the work of atonement
“You are accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 (kjv)

If you are in Christ, you don’t have to do something else to be loved and accepted.  All that you need is in Christ.  If He is yours, then the love of God, the forgiveness of God and the acceptance of God stream to you in Jesus Christ.

Jesus completed the full course of obedience

“God made him who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 2:21

Just as your sins were laid on Jesus and counted as His, His righteousness is draped on you and counted as yours.  In Christ you have already lived a righteous life.  He lived it for you.  You are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).

If your hope of heaven rests on your work, that hope will not stand.  Your works are incomplete.  They’re unfinished.  If your hope depended, in any degree, on something you had to do, in addition to what He’s already done, it could never stand.  But when your hope of heaven rests on Christ’s work, that hope is secure, because Christ’s work is complete.  He says, “It is finished.”

Jesus completed the decisive victory over Satan

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Some of you look at your family history and see the work of Satan, the destroyer, at work over generations.  You wonder if some kind of curse is hanging over your family, “What does this mean for me?”  I say to you, on the authority of Scripture, no curse can stand against you if you are in Christ.  How could it?  He won the decisive victory over Satan on the cross.

Maybe you find yourself overwhelmed by the strong pull of temptation.  Satan knows your weakness and he has been running rampant in your life because of it.  You have failed so many times you can hardly imagine prevailing over this enemy.

General Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army.  One day his granddaughter, Catherine, was getting ready to speak in the open air for the first time.  She was nervous, and she said to her grandfather, “I don’t know if it will do much good, but I’ll do my best.”  The old general said to her, “Catherine, with Christ you can do better than your best.”

Let that be an encouragement when you feel defeated.  You have done your best and you have failed, but with Christ you can do better than your best.  In Christ your enemy is a defeated foe.

Jesus completed the long night of His suffering

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

No suffering lasts forever.  Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  One day our Lord Jesus Christ will reveal the glory of the resurrection body, the new creation—no more sin, no more pain, no more tears and no more death.  All this is yours when Christ is yours.  Christ finished.  You haven’t.  But with Him you will!

Colin currently serves as Senior Pastor of the The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is committed to preaching the Bible in a way that nourishes the soul by directing attention to Jesus Christ.
To receive the LifeKeys weekly eDevotional, scroll to the bottom of unlockingthebible.org and sign up.  You can also follow Colin Smith and Unlocking the Bible on facebook and twitter.