When the Lord God created man in His image from the dust of the earth, he became a spiritual soul. Sadly, perfect man opposed his God. Some thousands of years later, the Son of God through the cross destroyed the works of the devil- and liberated fallen man. In Colossians 1:27, Paul wrote, 'To them (His saints) God willed to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.' In that emancipation, the risen Lord enters the life of the person, and becomes the hope of glory for all eternity. Phew!

When the critical Pharisees asked, 'When will the kingdom of God come, our Lord replied, 'the kingdom of God is within you.' (Luke 17:21) A kingdom demands the presence of the ruler as King, for our Messiah is Prophet, Priest and King; all in one Person. The coronation of our Queen, Elisabeth 11 of Great Britain at Westminster Abbey displayed the riches of the glory associated with her ruling. How much more for every believer on earth, as we constantly enjoy the intimate Presence of our majestic King in the palace of our physical body.

For heaven multiply the riches infinitely: clothed in a resurrection body, with glories of eternity: Christ at the Father's right: and saints from every nation, culture, people, and language: can you grasp the wonder? The Hallelujah chorus on every tongue. You are a subject of the KING. Are you living in spiritual poverty?

In that marvellous discussion on the Lord as the living bread, He said,' Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Msn and drink His blood, you have no life in you.' Our Lord showed how His cross sufferings had to be received into our lives and the precious blood shed to cleanse us; else we have no eternal life. (John 6:54) He said, 'My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.' All the virtue of His redemptive work must be absorbed in us, as food is received into our natural lives. Then He promised to abide in us as we live in Him, 'When we eat His flesh and drink His blood.' (v56) So, the abiding One hung on the cross and shed His precious blood in our place. The cross was always central in our Lord's plan.

Our dear Lord repeated this astonishing truth of the Holy Spirit occupying the temple of our body,' The Father will give you another Comforter (the Parakletos) that He may abide with you forever. Even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, for He dwells with you and shall be in you. (14:17 ) God conceived the entire redemption plan that He should forgive our sins, give us eternal life and send the Parakletos to occupy us until we are called into heaven, As the Holy Spirit lives in our lives, He will make the riches of Christ gloriously plain. Within 100 years, the Naga believers in North East India have turned from cannibalism to a 99.8% Christian nation; Christ living His holy life in a once-killer people. Glorious!

The Lord Jesus stressed the preciousness of drinking in bible truth when He said, 'if any man loves me, he will keep My word: and then a flood of blessing follows. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'(14:23)
This attracts us to study God's word and hide it in our heart, so that we might not sin against YOU.' The Father unrestrainedly pours His love on those who cherish His eternal word; and He and the Son will jointly occupy out lives. When aliens occupy nations in dispute, unrest follows: however, benediction comes when the hallowed Father and our Saviour occupy our lives. Does he reside in you?

In John 15 Christ is the true Vine. and we are the branches. (v5) Furthermore, He then promises a fruitful harvest, 'He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.' The abiding is mutual; for we must abide in Him, while He promises to live in us. The Lord blesses marriage where husband and wife live in intimate oneness; how much more when the King of glory assumes control of our lives. A bumper harvest of godliness delights the saint. Our Lord warns us we are powerless and ineffective in our strength; indeed, 'we can do nothing.' Precious truth is interlaced with grievous warning.

In this union, Christ imparts His (Shekinah) or heavenly splendour to us. While great men jealously guard their passing fame or sullied grandeur, our dear Lord floods His eternal glory into out lives, greatly enriching us. He is truly a giving God. Our Lord prayed, 'That they all may be one, as you, Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe You sent Me. (John 17:21) He added to His prayer, 'And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one as we are one.' When Christ lives in us, our hope of glory is fully realised. Bless the Lord for such possessions.

'God is love' may have been the first bible verse we learned in our baby days. Yet, it is profound in days when we need the love of God in our personal lives, to cement our families together, to purify our daily relationships in the office, factory or university, and to bind our dearest friends in that deep evidence of our dear Lord. He concluded His High Priestly prayer with, 'I have declared to them your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved Me may be in them, and I in them. '(v26) The deep love of the Father for His Son (agapeo, meaning heavenly love, self-sacrificial, surrendering even to death for the one loved, as Christ loved us to Calvary) will be infused into My beloved children. Furthermore, as the source of love I will invest in and possess their lives for all eternity.

Pause and thank the Lord's marvellous forethought of the Trinity that the whole Godhead, holy Father, eternal Son and Holy Spirit would come into our lives and make their home in us. These eternal resources outweigh the passing treasures of this world. Keep the delicate balance.