双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：10月17日 荣耀盼望

10月17日

荣耀盼望

神愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀；就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。

歌罗西书1:27

作基督徒的福气之一，就是有荣耀的盼望，可以超越坟墓，进入神荣耀的明天。

圣经以悲剧开篇，以胜利结束。

在《创世纪》中，我们看到了罪和死的悲剧；但在《启示录》中，我们看到神战胜罪和死的荣耀得胜。启示录14:13说：“从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了。”圣灵说：“是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，作工的果效也必随着他们。”

但基督徒永生盼望的基础是什么呢？我们对死后生命的盼望仅仅是一厢情愿还是盲目乐观呢？我们能确定死后还有生命吗？有一天，那些认识基督的人会永远与祂同在吗？

是的！在面对死亡时，有一个伟大的事实给了基督徒确据，就是耶稣基督的复活。正是基督肉身的复活给了我们信心和盼望。因为基督从死里复活，我们毫无疑问地知道，死亡不是终点，而只是通往永生的过渡。

我们永远不要忘记，基督的复活在许多方面都是所有历史事件的中心。保罗说：“基督若没有复活，你们的信便是徒然；你们仍在罪里。就是在基督里睡了的人也灭亡了。我们若靠基督，只在今生有指望，就算比众人更可怜。但基督已经从死里复活，成为睡了之人初熟的果子。”（哥林多前书15:17-20）。基督的复活使一切都不同了！因为祂从死里复活，我们知道祂是神的儿子，正如祂所说的，藉着祂在十字架上的死拯救了我们。

今日祷告：

父啊，我们感谢祢！因为耶稣的复活，我们有了永生的盼望。我们将永远与祢同在；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

October 17

A GLORIOUS HOPE

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery,which is Christ in you,the hope of glory.Colossians 1:27,NIV

One of the bonuses of being a Christian is the glorious hope that extends out beyond the grave into the glory of God’s tomorrow.

The Bible opens with a tragedy and ends in a triumph.

In Genesis we see the devastation of sin and death,but in the Revelation we glimpse God’s glorious victory over sin and death.Revelation 14:13(NIV)says,“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’‘Yes,‘says the Spirit,‘they will rest from their labor,for their deeds will follow them.”

But what is the basis of the Christian’s hope of eternal life?Is our hope of life after death merely wishful thinking or blind optimism?Can we have any certainty that there is life after death and that someday those who know Christ will go to be with Him throughout eternity?

Yes!There is one great fact which gives the Christian assurance in the face of death:the resurrection of Jesus Christ.It is the physical,bodily resurrection of Christ that gives us confidence and hope.Because Christ rose from the dead,we know beyond doubt that death is not the end,but is merely the transition to eternal life.

Never forget that the resurrection of Christ is in many ways the central event of all history.Paul said,“If Christ has not been raised,your faith is futile;you are still in your sins.If only for this life we have hope in Christ,we are to be pitied more than all men.But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead”(1 Corinthians 15:17-20,NIV).The resurrection of Christ makes all the difference!Because He rose from the dead,we know that He was in fact the Son of God who came to save us through His death on the cross,as He claimed.

Pray for the Day:

Father,we thank You that,because of Jesus’resurrection,we have the hope of eternal life.We will be with You forever;in Jesus’Name,Amen.