What is the Glory of God?

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).

That's quite a command. "Whatever you do." Every action, every choice, every purpose, every direction -- in everything you do you ought to be doing it to the glory of God. It begs the question. What is the glory of God?

Well, on the surface, it's an easy answer. God's glory is His nature. It is, first and foremost, the beauty of His nature. It is the sum of who He is. Paul says He "dwells in unapproachable light" (1 Tim 6:16). John describes the visitation on the Isle of Patmos (Rev 1:12-16) including the description, "His face was like the sun shining in its strength" (Rev 1:16). So magnificent was his vision of the glorified Christ that he says, "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man" (Rev 1:17). These, of course, are mere human versions of the magnificence of His utter glory, the combination of His attributes. God's glory is the display of His perfections, the demonstration of His holiness, the presentation of His ultimate worth.

Jesus told His disciples, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt 5:16). Now, the first odd thing in that statement is that they would see your good works and glorify your Father. That would be because genuine good works are those works done by God for God, and these kinds of good works are in stark contrast to normal human sin nature. But the second thing that seems odd is that we could possibly glorify the Father. I mean, if His glory is the display of His perfections, how can we make that any better? Perfection requires "not possibly better". We can reflect His glory, but we can't add to it.

Sometimes the Bible likes to use the word "magnify" here.

O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together (Psa 34:3).
I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving (Psa 69:30).
"I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD" (Eze 38:23).

So if God's glory is the display of His perfections and we are told to magnify the Lord, how does that work? How do we bring glory to God if He's already glorious by His own nature? Well, there are two forms of "magnify". In science it can illustrated by a microscope or a telescope. A microscope makes really small things big enough to see. A telescope takes really big things that are far away and makes them big enough to see. And the latter is the concept we're going for. God's glory is as an entire universe in comparison to the Earth. Now, let's see if we can bring it close enough for us to grasp, if only in part.

Our primary function in life is to glorify God. That means that we are to reflect in everything we do His perfections. Somewhere along the way we got the notion that our purpose in life is to serve ourselves, obtain our pleasures, satisfy our desires, fulfill our longings. The more noble of us might also deign to do the same for others around us. But that would be a mistaken notion. "Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God"

Glorifying God

The primary purpose of Creation in general and Man in particular is to glorify God. What does that mean? Does it mean to create glory for God? No, that makes no sense. Does it mean to increase glory for God? No, that's not right either. What, then?

David writes, "O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together" (Psa 34:3). Now, "magnify" means basically "to make large". One version of "magnify" would be what we do with the very small. We make them appear bigger. We ... exaggerate. That is not possible when it comes to God. We cannot make Him appear bigger than He is. Another version, however, makes more sense. A telescope can be used to magnify stars. Now, stars, in fact, are huge. Compared to stars, we are less than a piece of dust. But they can appear so distant that we need a telescope to really get a good look at them. They appear very small, but when we magnify them we see them better for what they really are.

And that is the idea behind "glorify". We don't make God more glorious than He is. We don't invest Him with glory. The idea behind us glorifying God is that we realize that we've lost our attention and we take the time to call attention to His glory, to see Him for what He is, to bring His glory into focus with greater clarity and magnitude.

Glorifying God. Bringing attention to God, His beauty, His magnificence, His greatness, His attributes and character. There is no shortage of God to which to call attention. And it is our primary purpose, the reason for which we were made. Once a week isn't enough, but it's a start. It's a good start as the aim for an entire week.

Philosopher's End

One of the key questions for philosophers is the "ultimate question" -- What is the purpose of life? Why are we here? Assuming (as I certainly do) that there is a God, why did He make us?

Despite the obvious problem with it, most of our answers revolve around us. Plato thought it was so we could gather as much knowledge as possible. Epicurus thought it was to seek pleasure. Existentialism holds that it is simply that we exist. Pragmatism argues that it is to experience life. Nihilists and absurdists suggest there is no meaning. And then there is the everyday human who will answer simpler things like to accumulate money or power or fame or love. Much of society today would argue that the meaning of life is found in sex. In all cases we are the ultimate arbiter and the ultimate reason for our own existence.

Christians don't often fare much better. While we sometimes recognize that the reason for being is found in God, we often tend to think that His primary thoughts are about us ... and we're right back to the same place. Our existence is primarily about us.

What does God have to say about it?

Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made" (Isa 43:6-7).

Apparently, from God's perspective, God made humans for His own glory. Apparently God's primary concern is that He would be most glorified. We were made in His image to reflect His glory. All that we do is to be done to His glory (1 Cor 10:31). According to Isa 48:9-11, even our salvation is for His glory.

Things exist for a reason, a purpose. If you understand the purpose, then you are better able to make the best use of it. We are created for the glory of God. If all that we do is done for the glory of God, that would be the best use of our time and effort, the matching of our existence to God's purpose for us. All glory to God!

The Glory of God

The Purpose of God's Glory

"I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed" (John 17:5).

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (Phil 4:20).

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created" (Rev 4:11).

Unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever (1 Tim 1:17).

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:1-2).

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).

What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory (Rom 9:22-23).

... waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:9-11).

It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Phil 1:9-11).

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places ... ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved
... ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:3-14).

The Problem of God's Glory

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things (Rom 1:22-23).

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

The Power of God's Glory

We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4).

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Eph 3:14-17).

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor 3:18).

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13).

Summary

The sum total of the Creation is found in the glory of God. The whole point is an expression of God's glory. The aim of all things is to, in everything, express and expound upon the glory of God. The problem, of course, is that sin falls short of that purpose. The primary problem of sin is the failure to glorify God.

God's glory is not without recourse. The failure of His creation to properly glorify Him is not the end of the story. To further His glory, God sent His Son to die on our behalf, a remedy for sin. It was that glory that raised Christ from the dead. It is that glory that strengthens us. It is that glory that transforms us. It is that glory that supplies us. It is that glory that sustains us in suffering. It is His glory that is our blessed hope, our future.

To many, God's glory is a bad thing. To believers, it is a good thing, but it is too often a side issue. Oh, sure, we're interested and all, but it is not central. But Scripture paints the glory of God as the primary issue. We glorify Him in good deeds. His glory is the point of all our blessings in Christ. We receive mercy for His glory. It is the only real thing of consequence. All of His nature is wrapped up in His glory. All of our purpose is aimed at His glory. There is no other point. His glory is all there is. As is repeated over and over in Scripture, "To our God and Father be glory forever and ever" (Phil 4:20).

To The Glory of God

Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:5-11).

Most of us have heard this passage. It has a lot of good stuff in it. There are two particular aspects that I want to point out.

First, something that I always seemed to miss in the passage is the totality of the result. Paul doesn't say that all believers will confess that Jesus is Lord. He doesn't say that all who are saved will bow. The result of Christ's death on the cross is that every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. That would include those who denied Him in life. There will be no exceptions. There is much debate about the efficacy of the cross. Is it limited? Is it universal? That question is in regards to atonement. But the cross will be fully effective in pointing to Christ as Lord ... without exception.

The other point is on the question of good and evil. One side of the argument will argue that God is totally separate from evil, that He can have nothing to do with it, either in planning or use. It seems to me, however, that this passage proves otherwise. We know that the crucifixion was the plan from the foundation of the world. We also know that the crucifixion of an absolutely innocent man -- in fact, the Son of God -- was evil, in fact, the ultimate evil. This passage in Philippians says that the crucifixion is ultimately "to the glory of God the Father". That means that God planned and used the crucifixion -- the ultimate evil -- for His glory -- the ultimate good.

Some people will complain about the idea of God using evil for His good ends. I find it comforting to think that God can use even the worst things for His ultimate good.

To Him be glory forever.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:33-36).

Wow! What a doxology!

I love that first part. "How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!" It gives me license to say, "I don't know." When challenged in areas that I just can't seem to comprehend, I don't find it unnerving; I find it affirming. No human being (read "finite") has the capacity to fully grasp God (read "infinite"). If we did ... He wouldn't be God. Often we get trapped into trying to answer things for which we don't have the answer. Don't do it. His ways are "inscrutable".

But it is the last verse to which I really need to pay more attention. "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever." Now, that falls almost entirely outside of our normal perspective. Human beings are naturally self-centered. "I" is one of the first words we learn. "Mine" is one of the first concepts we learn. It is constantly reinforced by society. "You deserve ..." "Your rights ..." "You're entitled ..." Then we come up against this amazing statement from Paul. "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things." First, what is included? "All things." That would exclude very little, to say the least. Second, where do these come from? God. What path do they take? God. Where do they end up? God. We naturally like to think, "It's all about me" when, in fact it really is all about Him. All. From, through, and to.

If we could just get that to sink into our brains. If we could just incorporate that in our everyday thinking. If only we could include it when evaluating our worth, our abilities, our goals, our dreams. If only we could consider it when thinking about the wrongs and injustices we've suffered. If only we could think that way when we relate to others. It's not about me. It's all about Him. Everything is from, through, and to Him. Everything is for His glory forever.

Amen!

The Glory of Christ

There is a fascinating phrase in 2 Cor. 4:4 -- "in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." I've often pointed to the fact that the unregenerate are blind and can't see the gospel, but right now I'm looking at that fascinating phrase, "the gospel of the glory of Christ". Apparently Paul believes that the Gospel that we preach is all about the glory of Christ.

To unpack this concept it is necessary to revisit the Gospel. A lot of "Christians" have forgotten what it is exactly. Let's review. I prefer Paul's clearest, most straightforward explanation of the Gospel:

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also (1 Cor. 15:1-8).

There it is; the gospel in unvarnished form. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Now, we can debate until the cows come home (which would be a long time for me since I have no cows) whether or not the "essentials" include the doctrine of the Trinity, belief in the Virgin Birth, an inerrant Bible, or a myriad of other things. My focus here is, first, "the gospel of the glory of Christ" and, second, exactly how that gospel is "the glory of Christ."

Paul embellishes his account with lots of important stuff. The Gospel is "according to the Scriptures". The facts of the Gospel are attested to by witnesses ... lots of them. The Gospel is "of first importance". Yes, yes, all of that. But the Gospel is, first and foremost, about Christ who paid the price for our sins and who rose again. That's the Gospel. When we embrace that payment on our behalf and the One who made it (since He is alive), we have forgiveness of sins, His righteousness, and a living relationship with God. If we do not embrace the Gospel, we do not have any of those things. It is such good news ("Gospel") to those of us who have embraced Him and His sacrifice on our behalf!

That Gospel, then, is "the glory of Christ". How is Christ glorified in the Gospel? He is glorified as the Lamb who was slain. John writes about this in the Revelation of Jesus Christ (that is the correct name, folks):

I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

"To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb , be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped (Rev. 5:11-14).

Now that is a worship service. "many angels" and "the living creatures" and "the elders" and "myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands" all in one voice declaring that "the Lamb that was slain" is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing ... "forever and ever." What a choir! What an event, one I can hardly imagine! And it is all to the glory of "the Lamb" ... "that was slain". Because He came and died, because He willingly laid down His singularly perfect life on our behalf, because of that choice, that love, that unparalleled act of mercy, Christ is glorified.

Christ is also glorified in the Resurrection. It serves first as confirmation that His sacrifice on our behalf was accepted by God. It concurs with Scripture that says, "Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay" (Psa. 16:10). It also provides a map for us. Christ was a forerunner that showed that we, too, will enjoy Resurrection. This is the primary point of the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Christ is "the first fruits of those who are asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20). His resurrection is part of the plan of subjecting all things to Him, and "when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28). His resurrection provides a blueprint for our resurrection. Paul says, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body" (1 Cor. 15:42) and promises "I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51). In the end, the bottom line is that on our behalf through His resurrection Christ has conquered death. "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:56-58). Through His resurrection He gives us victory over death and a reason to abound in "the work of the Lord". That's glory!

The Gospel is indeed good news for us. We must not lose sight of its simplicity (His death on our behalf and His resurrection, in which, if we believe, we are saved and defeat death itself), its power, and its wonder. On the other hand, let us be careful to remember continually that the point of the Gospel, as is the point of everything that exists and everything that occurs, is the glory of Christ. We benefit, but it's really about Him. And we, too, someday will be among the myriads and myriads shouting, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

Glory of God - Sovereignty

Back to the Glory of God.

It's a funny thing. Most Christians agree that God is sovereign. The degree of that sovereignty varies, but most Christians agree that He is sovereign. The odd thing is that you won't find that in many Bibles. The word does not appear, for instance, in the King James Version. In the NASB it occurs once -- 1 Tim. 6:15. In the ESV you can find it three times, including Acts 4:24, Rev. 6:10, and 1 Tim. 6:15. So if it is so spotty a term, why is it universally agreed that God is sovereign?

Well, much like the doctrine of the Trinity, another word not found in the Bible, the attribute of God that we call "sovereignty" may not be found in word, but it is evident throughout the Bible. The Old Testament refers to God as "Most High God" in multiple places (Gen. 14:18-20, 22; Num. 24:16; Deut. 32:8; 2 Sam. 22:14; Psa. 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 46:4; 47:2; 50:14; 57:2 ... you get the idea). There are many references to the Earth as belonging to God (Exo. 9:29; 19:15; Josh 3:11; Psa. 24:1; Isa. 66:1; 1 Cor. 10:26). Of course, the term "Lord" is a reference to ... Lordship -- a statement that He is Master. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, placing Him above all other sovereigns. In 1 Chron. 29:11 we read, "Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all." Now, if the NASB is a little vague there, perhaps the King James will jog your memory: "Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as head above all." We all know the phrase, "Thine is the kingdom." Along the same lines, Jesus told His disciples before He left, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth". (Matt. 28:18). The phrase "all authority" which includes "in heaven and on earth" leaves no authority anywhere to anyone but Him. That's "sovereign".

A sovereign is "One that exercises supreme, permanent authority" (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.) It seems that this is claimed solely for God. Does the rest of the Bible bear it out? Does God do whatever He pleases? Psa. 115:3 says, "But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." Psa. 135:6 repeats the idea: "Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps." He saves who He will (John 10:29), blinds who He will (Luke 10:21), needs nothing from anyone (Acts 17:25), and His dominion knows no end (Exo. 15:18; Psa. 146:10; Micah 4:7; Rev. 11:15). He raises human authority as He wills for His own purposes (Rom. 9:17) and allows them to do what He intends them to do (Acts 4:27-28). It sounds pretty much like "sovereign" to me. Indeed, it sounds like the only "supreme, permanent authority".

God claims to be sovereign ... ultimately sovereign -- Sovereign with a capital "S". There is nothing that occurs outside of His plan. He does as He pleases. He even has made the wicked for a purpose (Prov. 16:4). Many attempts have been made to sidestep this kind of Sovereignty (with a capital "S"). Some think it puts God on the hot seat. They try to minimize the damage by making Man responsible for sin and nature responsible for calamity even though God claims direct responsibility for calamity (Isa. 45:6-7) and God's omniscience makes it unavoidable that He would have to have known and, therefore, have planned for sin, even if He doesn't cause it. As the Westminster Confession puts it, "God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass." That's Sovereignty.

Assuming that our Bibles are right and God is actually as Sovereign as they claim, what does that mean to us? It means that "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13). It means that, despite appearances at times, our world is not out of control. It means that no one is beyond the reach of God to save or assist. It means that no authority out-votes Him. It means that all circumstances in life are for good. It means that when we fail it's God's plan for good and when we succeed it's God's plan for good and while we may be rewarded for success, in the end it is God who gets the glory. And that, in the end, is the ultimate purpose. All that occurs under His Sovereign Hand occurs to His glory. Count on it.

The Glory of God - Omnipotent

One of the attributes of God that most clearly demonstrate His glory is His power. In His omnipotence we get a real, tangible vision of His glory. Imagine, for instance, actually being at some of the events of the Bible.

Israel has just experienced the faith-building experience of all times. Some lunatic named Moses came to them and said, "God said we're going." Very few believed him. Yet, event after event -- ten in all -- occurred that had no rational explanation. God was there and He was real and He was acting on their behalf. The whole thing culminated in the death of every firstborn ... except their own. They were protected. As a result, not only were they being released; they were enriched (Exo. 12:35-36). Now, on their way out, Pharaoh changed his mind and was in hot pursuit. Israel wasn't armed, and they stood trapped between the Red Sea and the army that would either enslave or kill them (Exo. 14). The army, however, was blocked ... by the angel of the Lord. And the sea was parted so that they crossed on dry land. Ultimately, God terminated the pursuit by ensuring that the pursuers died that day (Exo. 14:17, 24-28). Exodus 15 is the song that Moses and Israel sang on that event. In it we see, "I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea" (Exo. 15:1) and "Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy" (Exo. 15:6).

That's an event I would have liked to have seen. God's power marvelously displayed His glory. Another such event was Elijah's duel with the priests of Baal. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah throws down the gauntlet to Israel. "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). All day the prophets of Baal and Asherah danced around calling on their gods to bring them fire, cutting themselves and dancing and shouting, to no avail. Finally, at "the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice" (1 Kings 18:29), they gave up. It was Elijah's turn. He set himself up with an impossible task by dowsing everything in water (1 Kings 18:34-35). Then he made one, simple plea to God. "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again" (1 Kings 18:36-37). That was it. No shouting, preaching, or dancing. One simple prayer. "Show 'em, God." That was it. And "the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench" (1 Kings 18:38). What an event! The people repented en masse. The false prophets were executed. The rains fell for the first time in seven years. And dear, old Elijah ... he outran the king's chariot going to Jezreel.

That's an event I would have liked to have seen. That is a marvelous display of His glory. His glory is manifested in His power, and there are wonderful displays of power in the Bible. There is the Creation in which God speaks and all that is now comes into existence. That's power. There is the Flood where all life save eight souls is annihilated by God in response to the evil of mankind. That's power. There is the assault on Jericho where the walls fall down without the Israelites bringing them down or the ultimate "battle of the bands" where Jehoshaphat takes his people out to watch God defeat their enemies while the choir sang (2 Chron. 20). That's power. According to Paul, Pharaoh was raised up for the purpose of God displaying His power (Rom. 9:17). And in God's judgment of sinners His power is displayed and His glory is manifested (Rom. 9:23).

God is omnipotent. He possesses all power. In that, His glory is wondrously displayed for us all to see. Some argue that God is hard to find. But on any given starry night a simple look into the vastness of the heavens shows His handiwork and all creation declares the glory of God as His power puts Him on display. It should be the prayer of every believer "to see Your power and Your glory" (Psa. 63:2).

The Glory of God - Holy

The Bible is all about the glory of God. The Gospel is called "the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Cor. 4:4). Christ was "raised from the dead through the glory of the Father" (Rom. 6:4). We are blessed with every spiritual blessing to the glory of God (Eph. 1:3-12). We know that in the end every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God (Rom. 14:11). All that has occurred from the creation of all that is to the end of all things has occurred for the glory of God. I thought that maybe it would be a good idea to take a little time to review what it is that makes God glorious.

The Bible lists many attributes of God. We're all aware that He is good and that He is love and that He is just and righteous. These are all true about God. One attribute, however, overshadows all other attributes. It is His holiness. In Isa. 6, the prophet Isaiah says, "In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord ..." (Isa. 6:1). He goes on to describe his vision of God complete with flowing robes, smoke, and seraphim. Isaiah, rather than being gleeful about this encounter with the God that he has been serving for five chapters already, is undone. "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isa. 6:5). What, exactly, was it that caused Isaiah to actually curse himself? Well, certainly it was the whole package, but there was one particular aspect of his vision of God that left an indelible mark in the rest of his ministry. Isaiah describes the seraphim as calling out to one another, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." (Isa. 6:3). Ever after Isaiah refers to God as "the Holy One of Israel".

We have a difficult time comprehending this holiness. We think of it as "not sin", and there is certainly that element. But it is much, much more. First, "holy" refers to "set apart". This term essentially means "other". The seraphim were crying out to one another, "God is other, other, other!" As such, He is set apart from sin without a doubt, but He is "other" far beyond the concept of sin. He is "other" in that He is God and we are not. He is "other" in that He is not a man (Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29; Job 9:32; Psa. 50:21). This is one of our extremely common mistakes in our thinking about God -- we think He is just like us. He is not. He is ... other. The other aspect of "holy" that we miss is the Hebraism used. When I want to emphasize something, I might italicize it or put it in bold. I can use an exclamation mark or an underlining. They didn't use those methods. Instead, they used repetition. Repetition, to them, was a sign of emphasis. Jesus, for instance, used this tool on multiple occasions. He always spoke truth, so His disciples should always listen. On occasion, however, He would say, "Verily I say to you ..." This was a sign to the listener. "The truth-sayer is calling attention to the fact that this is truth." It was like a teacher saying, "This may be on the final exam." On rare occasion Jesus went a step further: "Verily, verily I say to you ..." On these occasions, had the disciples been modern students, they would have done well to get out their notepads, turn on their recorders, or do whatever it took to note what followed because the "truth-teller" was calling grand attention to some truth here. In the case of Isaiah's vision, God's attribute of holiness is raised to the third degree. "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts!" It was as if they were raising the superlatives. "Holy, Holier, Holiest!" Then it was underscored, bold printed, italicized. This was not an everyday attribute; this was the key attribute.

Now, as I said, we can list a lot of attributes for God. He is love, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent. He is righteous and merciful, gracious and just. He is creative and sovereign and lots of other attributes. But never do we see any attribute listed to this third degree. Nowhere else do we read that God is "love, love, love" or "gracious, gracious, gracious." Not only is it listed that way in Isaiah 6, it is also laid out that way in Revelation. "The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, 'HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME'" (Rev. 4:8). So the holiness of God is expounded in both the Old and New Testaments and raised to the third power, so to speak. There is no other attribute of God so greatly emphasized as the holiness of God.

The point is that God is set apart, other. We cannot comprehend the degree to which that is true. And while there are commonalities (we are, for instance, made in His image), we will never be able to encompass God. The finite cannot grasp the infinite. When viewed this way, our puny attempts at explaining God seem feeble. Our ardent attempts to defend God seem nonsensical. Our wondering about why God would do thus and so seems purely childish. God is God; we are not. God is holy, and we can only get a taste, a glimpse of that glory. I suspect that the longer we meditate on the glory of God in His ultimate holiness, the better we will understand the futility of fully explaining Him or arguing against Him, especially in our own lives. I suspect that once we actually get a glimpse of this kind of holiness, we, too, will be on our faces with every single person that ever came in contact with God in real terror crying, "I am unclean!" Then, I think, we would be where we should be in the glorious presence of God.