Invincible Summer

Camus once wrote:"In the midst of winter, I discovered I had within me an invincible summer." This surely is a truth that Christians find in Christ when the going in life gets rough and hard to take. The invincible summer for the believer in Christ is "Christ in you the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Paul in his epistles often alludes to a "mystery" that the world does not know. He defines that mystery in Colossians 1:26-27. He clearly states: .... "the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles (unbelievers) the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory." In other words, with Christ ruling our hearts and inhabiting the true Christian by faith an invincible summer is deep within and remains when outside there are storms and problems too numerous to ennumerate.

In II Corinthians 4:7, Paul comes back to this mystery when he writes: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us". Paul could never get over the wonder of God in His mercy coming into our lives when we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. He lives there through His Holy Spirit inhabiting us deep within. Hallelujah! What is so unknown among unbelievers becomes a reality, namely, "Christ in you". The greatest mystery in the universe has been solved. "Christ in you", Christ, our God, indwells us who are but "jars of clay", elevating us to a position greater than the angels,viz. children of God.

Christianity is the only religion that teaches that the founder must come into one's life to be saved and have eternal life. This is why true Christianity is more than a religion. It is a person - Jesus Christ Who indwells every follower of His.

Paul comes to the conclusion: "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day".(II Corinthians 4:16) Surely this is the true "invincible summer" within our hearts.

Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead to make this possible. II Corinthians 5:15 reminds us: "And He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him Who died for them and was raised again." (II Corinthians 5:15)". Please read II Corinthians 4:7-9 and you will learn how much victory Paul had because he had Christ in Him, the Hope of glory. We, too, can experience this triumphant life as we let Jesus take over our lives and as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God day by day.

"An invincible summer"? Yes, but only if we have been inhabited by Christ Himself, Who is the Conqueror of all. Remember, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God..." (II Corinthians 5:17,18a)