UNDERSTANDING GLORY

“There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the GLORY of the celestial is one, and the GLORY of the terrestrial is another” – 1 Corinthians 15:40

UNDERSTANDING GLORY is salient to gaining the Revelation of the Glory of God: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the GLORY of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab.2:14). The Greek word translated Glory is “doxas” which means: the attributes of the true nature of a thing; the full expression of the true essence of someone or something. It is from this word that we derive the term, Doxology. Also, ‘glory’ comes from the Hebrew word, “kabod” which means: “heavy,” “weighty,” “fullness” or “full weight of something.” Used with respect to God therefore, the Glory of God is the full expression of God’s nature – “all that God is and has.” The Glory of God is the representation and manifestation of God’s personality and divine nature (His divinity); the weightiness of His Person and reputation.

Out meditation passage reveals that the word “glory” is not only used with reference to God, for there is “the glory of the celestial” and “the glory of the terrestrial” (v.40). Moreover, “there is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon; and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another in glory” (v. 41). Here are five vital Principles of Glory in Creation:

• God created everything with glory! All of creation exists to express, reveal, display and manifest one dimension of glory or the other. Everywhere we turn, we are surrounded by glory: the glory of the sun, of the moon, of the stars, of trees, flowers, birds, various species of animals, fish, insects, and diverse other organisms.

• God designed all things with their true essence – glory – buried within and consistent with their purpose for being. Each item or entity in creation has its unique God-given essence. The glory of the lion is unique and incomparable to the glory of the elephant. The glory of the Cedar is distinct from the glory of the Palm tree.

• God created everything to manifest His glory, by displaying and demonstrating His creative wisdom, and by being or becoming all they were made to be! God is pleased when glory is seen or manifested. When creation stands in its full bloom, we speak of it experiencing its moment of glory! Think of the eagle in flight, the lion in battle, the flower in full bloom or the beauty of the sunset at dusk. The Psalmist mused on these: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge” (Psa.19:1-2).

• God created humankind as the apex of His glory in creation. All creation displays God’s glory, but only Man was made in His image and likeness, and to have dominion: “And You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with GLORY and honor” (Psa.8:5). The glory of man is to be like God and to rule in dominion, in fellowship and harmony with Him. Sin’s assignment is to distort the divine  image, hide it under worldly junk, and thereby suppress the glory embedded within the earthen vessel: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2Cor.4:7a)..

• Glory is the “treasure in earthen vessels”! It is the unique nature of a creature, which is already present at its creation, awaiting nourishment and the right environment. The glory of the bird is displayed in flight, while that of the fish is demonstrated in water. Tall oaks from little acorns grow! The forest is in the tree. The woman is encoded in the girl, and the man in the boy!

Glory is the hidden essence of all created things. The purpose of life is to manifest that glory. There is no greater purpose in life than to fully release the glory God has deposited in you. The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without purpose; the greatest shame in life is not revealing your true glory! Real fulfilment is to fully manifest the glory within.