For God's Glory

 

(Jesus, praying on the mountain before His death)

“As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe BECAME WHITE AND GLISTENING.  And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,  who APPEARED IN GLORY and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:29-31

We often hear the term “God’s Glory”, and it has been made to mean many things.  “God’s Glory” is His presence put on display or demonstrated.  Our magnificent Father has an ‘aura’ about Him.  His power is so great that it is visible.  When Moses asked to see it in Exodus 33:18-23, God told him that no man could see Him and live, but He showed Him His Glory instead.  He put Moses in the safety of a rock cleft, and covered him with His hand so that he could pass by Moses and display His Glory.  That’s as close as Moses could get, and God was willing to show Moses His Glory to increase his faith. 

When Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments, Exodus 34:29-30 tells us that “his face shone” and when the Israelites saw it, they were afraid to come near him!  He displayed God’s Glory, something they had never seen before.  Likewise, on the day that Moses and Elijah appeared as Jesus prayed, God was there, and His Glory was seen.

Jesus’ robe became white – and glistening!  I’ve been in the presence of some powerful prayer conversations with God, but never have I seen the person’s clothing changed to white and glisten!  But when God draws near His children in prayer, His power shows up!  His presence will change your situation and your surroundings.  Imagine how the Glory of God must have surrounded Jesus to change the color and sheen of His robe!  My mind is too weak to grasp it.

While Jesus was praying God sends two men back from death to talk to Him, Moses and Elijah.  What were they talking about?  DEATH! Jesus’ own death.  Can you feel the love of God the Father for the Son?  He sent those who had suffered death and rapture to speak to Jesus about the death He would suffer.  Experienced in death and rapture, Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about the crucifixion!  God could have sent anyone to comfort Jesus, but He sent those who had been down the same road Jesus would go. 

Isn’t that what He does today?  He sends those that have been divorced to those that are experiencing divorce.  He sends those that have been abused to those being abused.  He sends those that have experienced poverty to those that are hungry and needy.  He sends those freed from prison to those in prison.  He sends the recovered addicts to those that are in the bondage of drugs and alcohol.  He sends those that have mourned to those that are mourning.  When God asked us to love one another even as I have loved you, He didn’t leave us empty handed to do so.  He has equipped us to do the work through the experiences we have endured in our lives. 

Friends, God will allow trials to come into our lives, but not just for the sake of seeing us go through them.  These events are how He builds us into strong vessels for His Spirit.  We are tried and purified by the fire of our life events.  Those events build a portfolio of faith, a testimony of God’s great power.

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:12-16 that we shouldn’t think it is strange when trouble comes, but to know that we are sharing in Christ’s suffering, and that “WHEN HIS GLORY is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”  It’s not “if” His glory is revealed – it’s “when”!  In verse 16 he tells us “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him GLORIFY GOD in this matter.”   

So how do we glorify God in our suffering? 

He most definitely cannot gain glory for it if we allow it to weaken and overtake us.  All things work toward our good because we are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  His purpose is very simple – to bring Him glory.  If you choose to cover your testimony with shame and disgrace, God cannot use it.  But if you choose to allow Him to strengthen you through it, if you give it to Him in ministry to others, He will be glorified.  His power will be made visible through you and your testimony. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE IN ANY TROUBLE, WITH THE COMFORT WITH WHICH WE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED BY GOD.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Not one tear, not one heartache, not one life event is wasted in the life of God’s children.  He will use it all for His glory…if you let Him.