Ever since our Pastor Mike McDonald preached on the word “glory” many Decembers ago, I have loved that word! I filed away an article that he also wrote on what “glory” really means.
The basic idea of the Old Testament word is substance or weight. The bottom line idea of the New Testament word is that which “appears to be” or “seems to be.” It is used of one’s reputation He has demonstrated what He is like visibly and tangibly. Psalm 19 begins, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” That is , what we can see in the heavens above or even all of nature around us is visible evidence of the existence of God.” from the Country Bible Church newsletter January 2001
He goes on to talk about Shekinah glory – which was the visible presence of God that you can read about in Exodus 16:10, 24:16-17 and 40:34-35. This leads me to remember one of favorite names of God that we recall at Christmas: Immanuel. The fact that God has continued to live among us, a lost people with no redeeming qualities of our own, is simply amazing.
Last night at the Paul Baloche concert, he sang about this very concept. The idea of looking and seeing just a glimpse of God, which is far more than we deserve, and being astounded. Some day we will see Him face to face – that is more than I can imagine!.
12 Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.
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