Have you ever used or heard a word quite often that you don't tend to think about a whole lot? Probably one such word in Christian circles would be the word glory. As believers we say that we exist for God's glory. We talk about doing everything for the glory of God. We sing songs about God's glory. We pray that God would be glorified in our lives, our home, our church.
But what does all this mean? What exactly is the glory of God? In what I would call his magnum opus, Wayne Grudem offers a very helpful and well-thought-through explanation:
In one sense, the word glory simply means "honor" or "excellent reputation." This is the meaning of the term in Isaiah 43:7, where God speaks of His children, "whom I created for My glory," or Romans 3:23, which says that all "have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." ... In this sense, the glory of God is not exactly an attribute of his being but rather describes the superlative honor that should be given to God by everything in the universe...." (Systematic Theology, p. 220)
But in another sense (and this is the main topic I want to touch on), God's glory is the bright light that surrounds His presence. Using Scripture as his base, Grudem explains what this means in a little more precise detail:
Since God is spirit, and not energy or matter, this visible light is not part of God's being but is something that was created. We may define it as follows: God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God's revelation of himself.
This "attribute" of God is really not an attribute of God in the sense that the others [are], for here we are speaking not of God's own character but of the created light or brilliance that surrounds God as he manifests himself in his creation. Thus, God's glory in this sense is not actually an attribute of God in himself. Nevertheless, God's glory is something that belongs to him alone and the appropriate outward expression of his own excellence.
This is an interesting concept and one I believe is consistent with Scripture. For instance, the psalmist exclaimed, "O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty, you who cover yourself with light as with a garment" (Psalm 104:1-2). This sense of God's glory is also spoken of in the New Testament, when news of Jesus' birth was heralded to the shepherds on the hillside: "And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear" (Luke 2:9). In Revelation we are told that the heavenly city will have "no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Rev. 21:23).
When we consider the indescribable magnificence of God's attributes, it makes sense that they would be manifested by such brilliance. God's glory - the visible manifestation of the excellence of His character - is so great, we can never fully gaze upon it or comprehend it. But it is our privilege as God's people to stand in awe of it and worship Him in light of it.
The subject of God's glory is astounding enough, but here's another aspect of it that completely boggles my mind, and that is that we who know and love Jesus Christ will share in His glory "when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe" (2 Thess. 1:10).
Imagine that! Yet here's something still more amazing: Even now in our Christian lives we all are being "changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor. 3:18). I know exactly what Grudem means when he writes, "Though we do not now find ourselves surrounded by a visible light, there is a brightness, a splendor, or a beauty about the manner of life of a person who deeply loves God, and it is often evident to those around such a person." Certainly, this "glow" will be intensified to the nth degree when Christ returns, for all our imperfections will be done away. "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). Yet how amazing to think that, even now, as we yield ourselves to God's Spirit, allowing Him to do His work in our hearts and through our lives, there is a "glow of God" about us. I've seen this myself as I have beheld the Lord's joy, His compassion, His love, His truth, His zeal - in committed believers.
On Sunday mornings, we've been studying the New Testament principle of "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 13:14; cf. Col. 3:12-17). The more we allow the Lord to have His way in our lives, the more we reflect His glory in the here and now. No wonder Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
I don't know about you, but meditating on God's glory fuels my desire to radiate that glory in the here and now. This brings to mind an old Steve Green song, with which I'll close. It is entitled We Have Seen God's Glory. May these lyrics challenge your heart:
There they are again,
The witness of Jesus take their stand -
Twelve amazing men,
Their testimony spreads across their land.
Such a story told -
How can they believe
That God has walked upon the earth?
Could they be deceived?
But how their words persuade!
The truth is in their eyes!
And many hearts are won to faith
As they testify:
"We have seen God's glory!
We have lived and walked with Christ the King!
We have seen Him heal the wounded,
We have heard the brokenhearted sing.
We have seen God's glory!
We have seen Him dead and raised to life!
We will worship Him forever -
We have seen God's glory, Jesus Christ!"
Here we are again
The witnesses of Jesus take their stand
May it never end
Through us let God keep stretching out His hand
Reaching those who doubt
Touching those who cry
Lifting up the word of God
As we testify
Walking with our God
In such a living way
That when we share our faith in Him
We can truly say:
The witness of Jesus take their stand -
Twelve amazing men,
Their testimony spreads across their land.
Such a story told -
How can they believe
That God has walked upon the earth?
Could they be deceived?
But how their words persuade!
The truth is in their eyes!
And many hearts are won to faith
As they testify:
"We have seen God's glory!
We have lived and walked with Christ the King!
We have seen Him heal the wounded,
We have heard the brokenhearted sing.
We have seen God's glory!
We have seen Him dead and raised to life!
We will worship Him forever -
We have seen God's glory, Jesus Christ!"
Here we are again
The witnesses of Jesus take their stand
May it never end
Through us let God keep stretching out His hand
Reaching those who doubt
Touching those who cry
Lifting up the word of God
As we testify
Walking with our God
In such a living way
That when we share our faith in Him
We can truly say:
"We have seen God's glory!
We have lived and walked with Christ the King!
We have seen Him heal the wounded,
We have heard the brokenhearted sing.
We have seen God's glory!
We have seen Him dead and raised to life!
We will worship Him forever -
We have seen God's glory, Jesus Christ!"
We have lived and walked with Christ the King!
We have seen Him heal the wounded,
We have heard the brokenhearted sing.
We have seen God's glory!
We have seen Him dead and raised to life!
We will worship Him forever -
We have seen God's glory, Jesus Christ!"