Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. When we speak of Christ as the
God of glory, we must also speak of the glory of God. This is
the essence of that which separates him from all of his creation.
He may see fit to impart a certain glory unto his creation, but
he will not share the essential glory of his person with any.
In fact, when Moses asked to see his glory, he told him, Thou
canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me and live.
It was necessary that Moses be hidden in a cleft of the rock,
and covered with his hand as he passed by, just so that Moses
might see a glimpse of his back parts. The idol gods of men can
be seen and handled, yet have no power. But the God of glory
cannot be seen, and yet has all power in heaven and earth. Men
desire a God whom they can control through their prayers, obedience,
morality, et cetera. Yet the scripture plainly tells
us that the God of glory changes not, and is not influenced or
controlled in any fashion. He sovereignly controls all events
and dispenses his favor to men according to his own will. We're
therefore struck with amazement when we behold the eternal son
emptying himself of his glory to walk among men, who being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant and was made in the likeness of men. And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. It is impossible for Him
who is the Eternal God to be anything less than God. In order
to fulfill His purpose to redeem those whom the Father gave Him
from before the foundation of the world, the Son clothed Himself
in flesh and blood, essentially hiding His glory as the Eternal
God from the view of men. Otherwise, those for whom He
came would have been slain by the glory of His presence. John
says, And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld
his glory. The glory is of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth. Christ Jesus is the
only begotten of the Father, as a real man who dwelt among
us. John speaks of seeing him full of grace and truth, as that
perfect man who was tempted in all points, as we are yet without
sin. He saw him as that man who, being God, laid down his life
for the purpose of redeeming his people from the curse of
the law and the power of sin. It is in Christ alone that we
can now behold the God of glory, even as Paul says, for God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Yet while we have the knowledge
of His glory, we have not yet beheld His glory in all of its
unbridled splendor. Paul says, for now we see through
a glass darkly, but then face to face. Sinful mortals cannot
behold that glory. Hence we see John falling at
his feet as a dead man when his presence was revealed to him
in Revelation 1.17. A similar experience was had
by Daniel and Isaiah. Yet we read in the same book
of Revelation that the nations of them which are saved shall
walk in the light of it. It is clear that the heavenly
city, which is as a bride adorned for her husband, enjoys the light
and glory of his presence after the completion of the covenant
of redemption. And when all things shall be
subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject
unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all
in all. Through the ages to come, we
shall have the unending privilege of dwelling in the glory of his
presence, as we praise the Lamb that was slain. Gone is the veil
of flesh that hampered our vision. Gone is the mortality and corruption
that separated between us. We shall praise and worship the
Son of God, who is one with the Eternal Father and Spirit. For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he
also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom
he justified, them he also glorified. He will then be seen as the God
of glory, because he has finished the work which he came to do.
I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work
which thou gavest me to do. Though he laid aside his glory
for a season, yet now his prayer is answered. And now, O Father,
glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I
had with thee before the world was. He is able to give glory
to his own and cause them to be united. And the glory which
thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even
as we are one. He will yet manifest his glory
in them in the ages to come. Father, I will that they also
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, and they may behold
my glory, which thou hast given me. For all the promises of God
in him are yea, and in him, amen, under the glory of God by us.
Have you beheld the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.