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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

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God’s Glory in His Deeds

On weekly strolls down green fairways, my friend Matt would often voice the most recent difficulties facing his business. It was not uncommon for him to stress openly over the pressure of financial strain. “If [such and such] doesn’t happen, I won’t make payroll next week.” Or “If I can’t restructure this agreement, I’ll have to close up shop.” [Building a business is not for the fainthearted.] Yet after a while, I noticed a trend: A man of prayer, Matt always survived his predicament, and quite often in the most unforeseeable of ways. Repeatedly amazed, I finally suggested, “It’s clear God hears you; He keeps delivering you from these predicaments. You should keep a journal of your prayers and His provision, because He’s answering you without fail.” So, Matt did exactly that — he began to record his petitions and then God’s faithful provision. His journal continues to be for him a source of strength and a call to praise.

We have been considering God’s glory over the past few weeks. In our March 11 post, we learned it is for His glory that He formed and made us.1 And in last week’s post, we saw praiseworthiness in His very being: He is Jehovah Shalom, our peace; Jehovah Raah, our shepherd; Jehovah Nissi, our banner; Jehovah Tsidkenu, our righteousness; and El Shaddai, Lord God Almighty.2 We could add, El Elyon, “the Most High God.”3 We see His glory in who He is.

Yet as my friend Matt experienced, God also manifests His glory in what He does. Again, we see it in His names, His descriptions.

He is El Roi, “the God who sees me.”4 Have you ever sensed God’s intimate, personal presence amid the most difficult times of your life, or can you now see it in retrospect?
He is Jehovah Jireh, “the Lord will provide.”5 Can you recall a time when you “inexplicably” received exactly what you needed, be it financial provision or inner assurance?
He is Jehovah Rapha, “the Lord who heals you.”6 Have you ever witnessed God’s miraculous healing, whether within yourself or in someone you know? (I think this happens more often than we realize or recall.)

If you have experienced God in any of His works in or around you, then tell of them, for people draw strength from testimonies. And sing from your soul the glory due God’s name, not only for who He is, but also for what He does. “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name.”7

“You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?”8 To You be all glory in the heavens and in our hearts, now and forever. In Christ we live and in Him we pray. Amen.

1 Isaiah 43:6-7
2 See last week’s post for Biblical citations of these descriptions of God.
3 Genesis 14:18-20
4 Genesis 16:13
5 Genesis 22:14
6 Exodus 15:26
7 Psalm 105:1-3 NIV
8 Psalm 71:19 NLT

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The Glory Due God’s Name

When our discussion occasionally turns to God’s glory, my good friend Dennis1 confesses some degree of ambivalence: while Dennis loves God and whole-heartedly agrees He is worthy of our praise, he is less comfortable with God’s continual insistence that we glorify Him. Likely, some of us can relate to one degree or another, so Dennis’ candor posits the topic before us. Let’s dig in.

God is indeed passionate for His own glory, and perhaps no scripture emphasizes it as clearly or boldly as His words spoken through the prophet Isaiah — “For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”2 No equivocation here! God glorifies Himself and, as we learned in last week’s post, our purpose in life is to glorify Him.  

Now, if a peer were to demand we continually proclaim his greatness, we would rightly consider him to be vainglorious — an egomaniac whose opinion of himself exceeds his worthiness of it. But praise be to God, He is not our peer; God has no equal! Rhetorically He asks, “To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?”3 No one! God — and only God — lives both in the highest of heavens and in the lowliest of hearts. To a world craving goodness, He is a fortress of good — “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”4

Again, God has no equal. He is a category of One. So who is this “One” so worthy of glory?

He is Jehovah Shalom, “the Lord is peace.”5 Have you ever experienced the inner peace of His silent presence?
He is Jehovah Raah, “the Lord is my shepherd.”6 Has God kept you from straying from Him or come after you when you did?
He is Jehovah Nissi, “the Lord is my banner.”7 Have you ever experienced the confidence of God’s victorious presence amid spiritual battle?
He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, “the Lord our righteousness.”8 Jesus has become righteousness for us,9 so we may forever be in God’s presence. Who else could have done this for us?
He is El Shaddai, “Lord God Almighty.”10 There is nothing He cannot do, and this omnipotent One loves us.
He is El Olam, “the everlasting God.”11 Our life is now hidden with Christ in God.12 As Christ was raised never to die again, so we, too, live forever in Him.

Take time to consider who God is and how you yourself have experienced His greatness. You will find that the glory owed to God does not exceed His worthiness; it reflects it, it proclaims it. Both now and forever. Amen.

Father, Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Be glorified in Your people, Your church. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 This name is changed here for privacy purposes.
2 Isaiah 48:9-11 ESV, emphases added
3 Isaiah 46:5 ESV
4 Psalm 34:8 ESV
5 Judges 6:24
6 Psalm 23:1
7 Exodus 17:15
8 Jeremiah 23:6
9 1 Corinthians 1:30
10 Genesis 17:1
11 Genesis 21:3
12 Colossians 3:3 NIV