God is Glorious

There is a sacred connection between the holiness of God and His glory. Holiness is His nature; glory is the response of all of nature in the presence of His holiness.

Glory is not light, yet conducts it. It was the shine in Moses’ face after all the goodness of God passed before him. It was the smoke that filled the temple when the angelic beings cried, “Holy! Holy! Holy!” It was the fire that struck Nadab and Abihu dead when they attempted an offering of their own imagination.

Glory is honor, beauty, and majesty in the King, which in turn summonsf admiration, allegiance, and alignment from His subjects.

God dwells in the glory of His holiness and created man to fellowship with Him. The fallen covering cherub, Lucifer, envied this relationship and led all of humanity to fall short of the glory of God through rebellious disobedience. (Rom. 3:23)

Now, we seek our own glory. Pleasure, possessions, and pride drive the market of human worship. Exchanging the One True God for images of creation, we glory in gods of our own making—ultimately worshipping ourselves. Instead of enthroning God and knowing only the glory of goodness, we have become as gods knowing good and evil. “Ichabod” is written over our lives. The glory has departed.

But God! Who is rich in mercy, with His great love wherewith He loved us, desires to bring us back into His glory. (Eph. 2:4) Through His abundant grace, a second Adam was born of a virgin, circumventing the blood of fallen man. Tempted in all points as we are, He was yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)  

This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sin forever, sat down on the right hand of the throne of God in glory. (Heb. 10:12)

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ constitute the gospel by which our salvation comes. (1 Cor. 15:1-4) When we turn from our self-ruled life and believe the gospel, we are saved from eternal death in hell.

Yet, God is not satisfied with salvation in eternity. He sanctifies us now—bringing the glory of God to live in us!  It is the position we hold and the process by which we are changed into His image, from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18)

God has called us not only to know, but also to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will one day dwell in His glory, but today we are to own it.

As it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:16) You have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Cor. 6:20)  And whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do all to the glory of God.(1 Cor. 10:31)

Because God is glorious.