In popular thought, the judgment of God of individuals is something still to come. It is as though God has yet to make up His mind about us. This can be properly understood, in the sense that those who endure unto the end will be saved, as Jesus said, Revelation 2:10,” … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.“
But what of those who are faithful now, are believers now? Is God still waiting to make up His mind about you? No! In faith you already possess what God wants to give you: Forgiveness, life, and salvation! You have already been brought to the eternal life that will last forever, as today’s text says, “Since, then, you have [already] been raised with Christ …”
The fact is that our relationship with God is a “done deal.” We are reconciled with God. He does give us spiritual life that is not of this “present evil age,” this “dominion of darkness”
As a result, the arrival of Christ on the last day is not a moment of fear or wondering, but a moment of incredible joy, for, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
As Christians we do focus on this new life, yet when we think about it we want to do so much more than we do. It is this “otherworldly” orientation that makes the Christian church such an oasis in this spiritually dark and barren and hostile world. So that this may be true more and more, we fervently reflect upon “things above” so that we, those we love, and those whom we seek to know may be embraced by the grace of our Lord, and freed of their burdens.