The Almighty God has a purpose for us. Psalm 8: 5-6 state, you have made them (mankind) a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet. The glory is (1) to oversee God’s creation; (2) the power to succeed; and (3) the proficiency through Christ Jesus our Lord.
We have worldly glory and God’s bestowed glory. Worldly glory is the honour we receive from our possessions or wealth, power and influence. God’s bestowed glory is the imperceptible radiant and splendor that emanates from God’s presence and by which we exhibit his nature. God’s bestowed glory thus puts us in an entirely different category making us the envy of the ungodly. Our glory should come from God’s bestowed glory and not worldly glory.
When do we exchange our glory?
Our glory is given from our conception in accord with God’s plan. In Genesis 25: 29-34 say, for want of food, Esau exchanged his birthright and consequently his glory with Jacob for food (summarized). Mankind has equally exchanged his God-given glory with sin and pleasures of the sinful world just like Esau. We exchanged spiritualism for materialism as Esau did when we place worldliness above God’s plan for us.
Whoever rejects God and his righteousness loses his glory for Isaiah 60: 19 says, … your God will be your glory. When we separate from God in favour of sin, we equally separate from his glory. Without holiness, God’s glory which eclipse us departs from us and in its stead, we have shame and eternal death. 1Chronicles 16: 29 says, worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Sin opposes holiness. Is God glorified in us? Or have we exchanged our glory for sin?
How do we keep our glory?
1Peter 2: 12 says, live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. We are enjoined to exemplify Christ Jesus. Hebrews 4: 15 says, we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet he did not sin. Jesus maintained his glory through holiness without sin. Should we keep our glory?
Invite the Holy Spirit
We cannot keep our glory without the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 2: 18 says, because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. We are further assured in 1Corinthians 10: 13, God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. The Holy Spirit is the protector of our glory.
Be proud of your glory
Since God yields his glory to no one, we must do likewise. Isaiah 42: 8 says, “I am the Lord, that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. Temptations to yield our glory may come in many forms, directly or otherwise, as Jesus was tempted. The devil said to Jesus in Matthew 4: 9; Luke 4: 7, “All this I will give you, “he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Proverbs 1: 10 says, my son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. Be alert and avoid such enticement.
Don’t belittle God’s gift
We lose our glory when we belittle God. All we have is by grace and we can lose them anytime. We should therefore not seek glory for ourselves but God. Jesus said in John 8: 50, I am not seeking glory for myself, but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Paul quoted in 1Corinthians 19-27, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate… Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world… God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God determines our destiny and we cannot despise him.
Who is the keeper of glory?
God owns all glory and keeps it through Christ Jesus. Colossians 1: 16 says, for in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rules or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. We cannot lawfully exchange what is not ours. Only God through Christ Jesus can do so. Hebrews 13: 5 says, keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” God will preserve our glory in Christ Jesus if we walk with him during our needs.
Have we already exchanged our glory for worldly pleasure? Or have we kept our glory in the blood of Jesus who has promised never to leave or despise us?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, in your blood, help us to preserve your glory in our lives. May we never exchange it for anything against your purpose. Help us to be content with you as our provider. Guide us by your Holy Spirit in all our deeds in all circumstances. Restore unto us what we have exchanged for sin. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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