Christian Living
Would Lazarus have wanted to come back after he had tasted the fullness of God’s glory? His sisters, Mary and Martha, wanted him to come back. And obviously the Lord wanted him to come back because He made it happen. But how did Lazarus feel? He was completely unfettered by fleshly chains when all of a sudden he was bound again, not only by his flesh but also with pounds of burial wrappings. Could he have been thinking, “Why, Lord, Why?”
Jesus cared so much for His people’s lack of faith that He wept openly. He had to perform this miracle whether Lazarus would have wanted Him to or not. Jesus explained that if we just believe, we will see the glory of God. Do you believe this?
I know I have trouble believing it at times. It’s hard to write an article about glory because I’m definitely not there. But by His grace and His Spirit, I can behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and I am being transformed into that same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). The glory of God is unfathomable as a whole to comprehend but God has given us many clues so that we may apprehend some of His glory piece by piece. His Word (the Bible) gives us a glimpse into His glory. Our belief and faith lets us see even more. And the gift of the Holy Spirit illuminates daily more glimpses of this glorious light. Romans 8 gives an account of how to see this glory.
1.) Walk Away From Sin
Romans 8:5-6 (New King James Version)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The more I choose to walk away from the power of sin, the more I perceive the glory of the Spirit. God’s glory is manifest each day when I seek to be spiritually minded and therefore see new perspectives.
For instance, in the last couple of years, I often heard a prompting from God about television watching. I heeded His advice somewhat by watching less. I was listening to God and obeying His wisdom. God was probably thinking, “That’s a good start,” and I did feel His pleasure but every now and then I would still get those promptings about television watching. So I cut down some more. A little bit more time goes by and I feel that same prompting again. This time I’m thinking, “I don’t really watch that much anymore, Lord.” (This is basically a what-do-you-want-from-me-Lord question.) I didn’t sense a definite answer from Him but a few months later I felt compelled to cancel my cable completely. So I did.
And after that, I realized something. It wasn’t the amount of television that I was watching because I really did cut back. It was why I watched television. There were times that I’d turn it on just because I’d had a hard day and needed to relax and do nothing. God wants us to bring our hard days to Him. He wants us to come to Him for rest. There were also times when I’d turn on TV as a background noise, in other words for company. This only served to drown out God’s voice because I was concentrating on something else. When the television is on, it is far too easy to zone out. God wants us to be aware and available when He speaks.
2.) Learn From Suffering/Embrace Hope
Romans 8:22-25 (New King James Version)
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
That same glory is also revealed in me through my sufferings. Suffering today leads me to look forward with hope to His glorious tomorrows. I was saved in order for me to see this hope. I won’t get a 100% view of His glory until after death. This is why I hope. I don’t hope in what I see today. I hope in what I glimpse from afar. But each day I add to my memories new experiences of God’s glory. God gives me these daily treasures to make it easier for me to persevere.
No matter what is happening in my life or what I am feeling, I can look to the nature that God created as a sign that, “It’s not about me.” All of creation and all of an individual’s life experiences were designed to point to Him and give Him glory. I share in that glory only when I enjoy the ride of life and really notice every aspect of that same life. Everything in my life was planned for a purpose, even the disappointments, the unrealized dreams, and the not-yets. When I seek to learn from each experience and look forward with hope to what God will do beyond these disappointments, then I glimpse the glory of His divine sovereignty and goodness. I also have to ignore the lies that Satan interjects that God isn’t good and He doesn’t want good things for me. I know that these are lies because God proved a long time ago that He is love when He sent His only Son to die for a lost and fallen world.
3.) Glory in Weaknesses
Romans 8:26-27 (New King James Version)
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
His glory also shows itself in my weaknesses. Weaknesses are within me so that I see my need and when I admit these weaknesses, God compensates for them and covers my lack with His strength. For instance, when I admit that I don’t feel well (for whatever reason: sickness, emotion overload, or simply tired), God brings someone along that can help either by taking on some of my work or taking time to listen to my thoughts. But when I keep those feelings to myself and don’t admit that I need help, then I stay struggling under the burden. When Jesus was offered help with physically carrying the crosspiece, He didn’t say, “Go away, I can do it all by myself.” (He was able to bear the full brunt of God’s wrath caused by mankind’s sins. He just needed help in His weakened human body.)
Does all of this suffering and weakness separate me from the love of Christ? Does it make me feel so inferior that I can’t draw near? No! On the contrary, suffering draws me to my knees where the love of Christ can then bind me up and heal me.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).
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