“And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering” (Romans 8:23a, NLT).
Appetizers are a great way to start a meal, but are small, so even though they can be satisfying to some extent, they often leave you wanting more. These little bits of food are no substitute for a substantial meal and are only meant to tease the appetite and stimulate hunger.
The Holy Spirit is our appetizer for the wonderful future God has in store for us. He reassures us of God’s great love and mercy and testifies to our spirits about Jesus, who is Truth. The peace, comfort and glimpses of glory he gives us leave us wanting more and remind us this life isn’t all there is. A time is coming when we’ll have new bodies, live on a new earth and will never cry again. Appetizers aren’t meant to fully satisfy, but they do hold the promise of much more to come. We’ll just have to keep waiting in delicious anticipation for not just the meal, but dessert too!
Jesus - Son, Savior, God 