When God created man He placed His glory in man. After the fall, that glory was gone. When you look at sinful man, you don't see God's glory being reflected. However, God's plan was to restore what had been lost. Through Jesus Christ, God restored His glory in man. This is a huge part of the gospel.
There is a famous quote from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." The big question, though, is how do we glorify God? Do we glorify Him with our attempts to please Him? Is God glorified through our buildings, programs, ministries, etc...
There is recorded in Matthew an account of Peter, James and John seeing Jesus transform before their eyes as He met with Moses and Elijah. This blew them away! Peter began to express to Jesus that he wanted to build three buildings for each one of them. Before Peter could finish describing his great plans, Father interrupted him and said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" (Matt. 17:5, NASB)
When you look at Jesus' life, you see someone who only pursued two things. He pursued a relationship with His heavenly Father and He pursued relationships with fellow human beings. Jesus did not leave behind a legacy of buildings, programs, or ministries; and yet, God said He was well-pleased. Don't assume that I'm implying we shouldn't build buildings or have programs or ministries. As I said in an earlier blog, that's the cart!
Glory is not something we pursue, that is fleshly and worldly. God's glory is something that is imparted to us, not something we earn or work for. Glory is not something I do, but something I possess to express! John said in Revelation 21:23, "And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it and its lamp is the Lamb." (NASB) In Colossians 1:27 Paul says the mystery of the gospel revealed is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (NASB) Wow!! Did you catch that? God's glory is the Lamb and that Lamb is in you and me as believers.
The only way you and I can glorify God is to express His glory. Anything less than that is junk! The only way I can express His glory is to submit my will moment by moment to His will. Jesus said in John 15:5, "...apart from Me you can do nothing." (NASB)
I want to encourage each one of us to give up on our plans for glory and allow God's glory in us to make its way to the front!
