From the earliest days when God began to work with a “people” as a congregation, He has made it known that the manifestation of His glory is paramount in His dealing with believers.
When the tabernacle was completed, the “church” in the wilderness (Acts 7:38) watched as “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Ex. 40:35) Similarly, when the majestic temple was finished by King Solomon hundreds of years later, “the glory of the Lord filled the house.” (II Chr. 7:1)
In time, because of apostasy and idolatry in Judah, “the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city [Jerusalem].” (Ezek. 11:23) But, in the fulness of time, when God sent His own Son into the world to tabernacle amongst His people, John the Apostle declared: “We beheld His glory.” (John 1:14) The glory of God that had departed from Judah returned in the second person of the Godhead so that once again, after centuries, His glory was visible.
In the ages to come, a final, dramatic, and visible appearance of God’s glory will happen when Jesus Christ, at the end of the seven-year Tribulation depicted in Revelation (chs. 6-19) will come in “power and great glory.” (Matt. 25:31)
At the present time, known commonly as the “Church age,” God is declaring and manifesting His glory in and through the Body of Christ—the called-out ecclesia, the Church: “Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20)
So, the overriding theme of history in God’s dealings with His people is that His glory will dwell amongst them. In this present time, that is being fulfilled through the Church—His called out assembly—day by day, until He calls His Church to Himself, in the Rapture. If you are a child of God and are reading this, let me remind you that, because you have been bought with a price, it is incumbent upon you that you “glorify God in your body and in your spirit.” (I Cor. 6:20)
Sadly, that sometimes is not happening in the Church. Too often, in fact, some destructive, undermining forces are at work in the Church of the living God—forces that I have labeled “glory robbers.” Let me briefly, and without much commentary, mention just some of these glory robbers:
- Rebellious pastors not subject to and serving Christ. A pastor’s first and foremost assignment is to minister to the Church so that in whatever he sets himself to do—preaching, teaching, counseling, visiting—he will do all to the glory of God and to the edifying of the Church.
- Self-serving men who love to have the preeminence. (III John 9)
- Insubordinate women who try to usurp authority. (I Tim.2:11ff.)
- Carnal Christians who choose not to live in peace. (James 4:1ff.)
- Immature believers who refuse to grow up in the Lord (I Cor. 3:11ff.)
- Disobedient Christians who will not quit sinning. (Hebs. 10:22ff.)
- Indifferent saints who just want to “sleep!” (Romans 13:11)
- Selfish saints who rob God in the way they give—or do not give. (II Cor. 8:19, 23; 9:13)
- Independent Christians who try to circumvent God’s local church, i.e., no baptism, no membership, no accountability, no service. (Matt. 16:18)
- Proud believers who do not pray. (I Pet. 3:12)
- Careless believers who abuse God’s temple. (I Cor. 6:19,20)
- Lazy believers who sit on their spiritual gifts. (I Pet.4:10)
What a holy occupation this is, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. God made it known early in His dealings with those who were numbered amongst His: “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all people I will be glorified.” (Lev. 10:3) He was glorified in Israel: “Thou art my servant O Israel, in whom I will be glorified,” (Isa. 49:3) And He assured us that even those who opposed Him would, in the end—by His power—glorify Him: “I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezek. 28:22)
Jesus affirmed that when the world witnessed His own doing good works, the world would glorify the Father. (Matt. 5:16) Christ taught His disciples that when the Spirit of truth would come, He, the Holy Spirit, would “glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:14). Paul exhorted the saints at Rome that they should be “of one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 15:6)
So as believers occupied with doing His will by engaging in His work, done in His way, according to His Word—through His church now in this age—our daily employment in body and in spirit ought to be to glorify God. To do less is to “rob” Him of His due. He alone is worthy to receive GLORY and honor and power—for He has created all things for His pleasure. (Rev. 4:11) And, as Isaiah reminds his readers, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.” (Isa. 42:8) Early on, He made it known to all that He was a “jealous God.” (Exodus 20:5—a word from God expanding on the 2nd of 10 commandments, which stated: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness.”) It was the breaking of this commandment, idolatry, that was Israel’s besetting sin, eventuating in their captivity, first to Assyria in 722 B.C. (the northern 10 tribes of Israel), and second to Babylon in 605-597 B.C. (the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin). God’s glory mattered, as His people painfully learned!
Do you breathe to bring glory to Him? Do you strive in word and deed to glorify God? Are you glorifying Him through His church, the body of Christ? Did you see yourself in the list of glory robbers? If so, will you repent and begin this moment to declare with David that “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” (Ps. 86:12)
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31)
YOU and GOD 