Find the Glory of God in your life!

-          Rev. Axel Fischer (non denominational Christian movement)

The frustration of the unfound glory

One of the most desirable things for all human kind was, and probably still is, to reach beyond our natural limitation, to experience a supernatural encounter with God, to dip into the unlimited ocean of peace, comfort and light, to touch heaven and be in the glory of God.

But since Adam and Eve had to leave Eden behind, they were separated from God, and mankind has been seeking to come back to this stage ever since.

In the Old Testament, various stories tell how some chosen people finally got to see a glimpse of God’s glory. Still, they could hardly stand it, and it was so overwhelming that even surrounding nations of Israel trembled and feared when God’s glory manifested.

Till today, all over the world, in any kind of religion people seek a supernatural experience of glory, or inner peace, and eternity. They do all kind of things; they practice strange rituals, or pray and meditate. Often even Christians push themselves to be better and to be more holy, to take hold of the glory of God.

Mostly this kind of journey remains unsuccessful, and even leaves a certain frustration. We try to compensate for our inner emptiness with other things. We feed the soul with emotional satisfaction in entertainment or relations or material things, and our spirit we try to comfort with all kinds of rituals. But in truth there remains the cry of a desperately-seeking empty person inside us.

Different appearances of the glory

The Bible tells us about two different kinds of glory, one in the Old Testament and another in the New Testament. When we study the Old Testament and read about the miracles and manifestations, whether during the life of Moses or the prophets, it seems to be stronger and more overwhelming than in the New Testament. Of course there are all the healings and miracles of Jesus, but Jesus was still very normal in his outer appearance. No halo on his head, as some artists try to express in their paintings. No gold dust in his footprints, no rainbow or shining light in his presence. The same with the disciples; even though they ministered in the power of God, healing the sick, and demonstrating the good news with following signs and wonders, we also read that they were very ordinary people. They were no different on the outside compared to everyone around them. Even on the inside they were also struggling with character issues, fear, and even sin.

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. (2 Corinthians 3:7-13)

The ministry that brought death; why death, if there was so much glory? It was the law, which Moses received on the mountain engraved in letters on stone. Even though it was God’s word, it didn’t have the power to redeem, it was only the law showing God’s standards and revealing sin and condemning it. So the result was that people were judged by the law and found death. But they could still see from a distance that this law was from God, by the glory which was manifested on the mountain and on Moses’ face. The problem was that the glory wouldn’t stay, not even with Moses.

Now Paul compares the ministry that brought death, which is condemnation by the law, to the ministry of the Spirit, which is the law of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). And this is so much more powerful. In the Old Testament the Spirit couldn’t be poured out on all flesh yet. He would just rest in the temple, and he was given to a few people on a few occasions to fulfill his will. But through Jesus Christ redemption has come to us, and he has fulfilled the law of death in his own body, so that we can live by the law of life, which is by his Spirit. As long as the ministry of the law, punishing sin and bringing death, wasn’t fulfilled, the glory of God would always pass away again and again. But Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law, which he didn’t just do in good deeds among the people, but by giving his life as the law of sin and death claimed he fulfilled the law for us. So he created a new season for the Spirit and the glory of God to stay permanently.

This redemption is incredibly powerful, lifting us up to a dimension we hadn’t been even dreaming of, and giving us courage to compare ourselves to Moses, who had to cover his face because of the wonder of the glory. But we don’t need to do that, because the Spirit and the glory will never leave or forsake us (Mathew 28:20).

But as it is written about the Israelites, that their minds were made dull, I am concerned about us today. We have a greater glory which is not ever going to leave; do we also have a dull mind, and cover our spiritual eyes with a veil again and don’t see? This is not meant to condemn or judge you, but to release you from the veil. As it is written, the curtain in the temple has been torn apart and the glory of God is no longer separated from us. He doesn’t want to live in temples of stone, but in us. This veil can only be removed by Christ, which he did, once for all. But to have this veil removed from my own eyes, I have to understand the fact that he finished the law of death. That means I am no longer condemned, but can live by the Spirit. This we only can do by faith! Or in other words, we can embrace the truth, even if we don’t understand or deserve it. But this will bring us to the Spirit, free from the law of condemnation and death, redeemed by grace and able to live in his presence and his glory. Many people and Christians know this, but still feel a lack of his glory. I know that too well, because I have been there, and I still have to keep holding on to his truth. So this next step will help you too.

Revealing the hidden glory 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

In our lives we face a similar situation to the disciples. We want to follow this great Jesus, but struggle with our daily life situations, temptations and our character. It just doesn’t seem so glorious all the time. But this is where the biggest part of the problem is. We focus on what we feel, or what we hear, or what we see in the natural, instead of focusing on things which are true and real from God’s perspective. We are still in a breakable body, just like a jar of clay that doesn’t look so glorious but has treasure inside which makes all the difference. Do we look on the clay or on the treasure? What is real? Both! But the treasure gives us value and power. So we should concentrate and focus on the treasure within us. It is not even visible from the outside—it was not visible in Jesus’ natural body either, but the Spirit within him gave him authority, love and everything to show the glory of the Father. This was different from what people expected, because they were still in an Old Testament mindset. They expected outward glory to manifest, so they could be spectators, get a thrill, and later be sad that the glory had left. Too often we slip even today in this kind of mindset, but this is not what Jesus prepared for us. And it took a long time until his disciples finally understood that he would be with them always by the Spirit, and that in this way he and the glory of the father would be in us and shown through us to the world. This is what Paul was talking about.

Discover the glory within you

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

So, as we are released from the veil, through the revelation of Christ, there is nothing between God and us. This means his light and glory shines unblocked unto us, and we can see unhindered into his light. The more we get to see and know him, the more we get to see and know ourselves. As we discover his greatness, we discover our own greatness. We are his workmanship; he has indeed created something great. But as we were under the veil, not seeing the light but being in darkness under the law of death, we couldn’t find greatness in us: rather condemnation and inferiority. But now we see how great he has made us, even calling us sons and daughters, kings and priest, ambassadors of his kingdom. He has made us unique, each one of a kind, reflecting his glory and beauty. Now being in the light, without the veil, without shame and blame because he has taken it, we can grow, develop and increase from glory to glory, permanent increasing glory. Unbelievable? But true, and as you embrace this wonderful revelation, you will be surprised to find the glory of God where you didn’t expect it. In areas which just looked gray or black, you find colors; where you are confronted with sickness, you find healing. Where you were angry and complaining before, now you will find reason for thanksgiving and worship. Where everything just looked depressed and full of problems, you see possibilities and hope. Where you just felt the condemnation of the law, you see redemption by grace. Where you saw failure and weakness, you see potential and strength. All because the veil has been taken away by Christ, and he is giving you a glory that stays and glorifies him, forever and ever, amen.