The Glory of God

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). That's what it says. And we all get that. I mean, it's quite clear, even in human thinking, "To err is human." We all sin. No exceptions. But, wait! What about that second phrase? "Fall short of the glory of God." What does that mean?

We are made to glorify God. Face it. Everything is made to glorify God. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psa 19:1). We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:2). Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). It doesn't stop. Our job is to glorify God. We fall short. That's a colossal failure.

But, wait! What is this megalomania? I mean, if God is glorious, what does it matter if we see it or reflect it? We can't improve on it. We can't increase it. What's this all about?

In truth, God is indeed utterly glorious. His glory is His nature. That is, all that He is defines His glory. His wrath and His mercy, His justice and His grace, His Omniscience, His Omnipotence, His Omnipresence, His Sovereignty ... the list goes on and all. God's glory is defined by who He is. And we don't change that. We don't add to it. We can't detract from it. All we can do is point to it.

And that's our job. "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt 5:16). See how that works? You do good works and they glorify God for it. And that, in fact, is the point. We don't add or subtract; we point. We encourage from ourselves and others the glory God deserves. Because He deserves it. All of it. I suppose that is our sticking point, isn't it? Because we want some of it. And He assures us "My glory I will not give to another" (Isa 48:11). So let's glorify God. It is right. It is useful. It is the purpose for our existence. And, face it, it's something really easy to do, given His glorious nature.