The Glory That Awaits Us

Cruise line promotions stuff our mailbox on a regular basis. They are tantalizing. I find it interesting that, although their literature features onboard activities and delectable dining, what they’re really selling is destination. Ornate European cities dotting the Rhine; Scandinavia’s fjords, majestic green mountains exploding upward from placid blue waters; the laid-back, steel drum vibe of the Caribbean — the allure of the trip is the destination that awaits.

Over the past three weeks, we have been focusing on God’s glory, not only in who He is, but also in what He does. Why then is it important that we take time to contemplate glory? First, as we’ve seen, glorifying God is our Biblically-stated purpose in life — it’s why we were created.¹ Moreover, the majesty of His being calls forth His praise: “Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty . . . thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.”²

There is yet another cause for pause and contemplation, and it is this: Glory is where we are going, it is our destination, it awaits. Paul declares the time is coming when, “at the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”³ No exceptions: we will all behold His glory and worship Him. But grace upon grace, we who live in Christ now through faith will be glorified with Him face to face. “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later,”⁴ writes Paul. Moreover, “we have the Holy Spirit within us [now] as a foretaste of future glory.”⁵ And when Christ appears, “we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”⁶ Yes, glory is where we are going, both Jesus’ glory and — in Him — our own.

Every day our ship draws nearer to port. Then may we heed Paul’s exhortation to this world’s travelers of any generation: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”⁷ This is our destination. See you on board.

Father, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what [You have] prepared for those who love [You].”⁸ Thank you for your amazing, boundless love. Be glorified in this life You have so graciously given me. In Christ I pray. Amen.

¹ See Isaiah 43:6-7 NIV
² 1 Chronicles 29:11 KJV
³ Philippians 2:10-11 NIV
⁴ Romans 8:18 NLT
⁵ Romans 8:23 NLT
⁶ 1 John 3:2 NIV
⁷ Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
⁸ 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT