Question:
What is the glory of God?
Answer:
The phrase “glory of God” appears 17 times in the Bible. It sometimes refers to the glory that He receives from His creation. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the GLORY OF GOD; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” Sometimes trials and troubles in our lives can be used to bring glory to God. John 11:4 says, “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the GLORY OF GOD, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Man can bring glory to God, because he is made in the image of God. I Corinthians 11:7 says, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and GLORY OF GOD: but the woman is the glory of the man.”
What we must remember is that SIN NEVER BRINGS GLORY TO GOD. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have SINNED, and come SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” God’s glory is perfect, and thus, it is bright and shining, with no flaw in it. We see a glimpse of that truth when Jesus was transfigured on the mount in Matthew 17:1,2, “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did SHINE AS THE SUN, and his raiment was WHITE AS THE LIGHT.” Mark 9:2,3 describes it, “And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding WHITE AS SNOW; so as no fuller on earth can white them.” But man loves sin, evil, and darkness. John 3:19,20 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS rather than light, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
It is God’s sinless perfection, that makes Him so glorious. I Timothy 6:15,16 says, “Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, DWELLING IN THE LIGHT WHICH NO MAN CAN APPROACH UNTO.”
We are told to live holy lives. I Peter 1:15,16 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Matthew 5:48 tells us, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” The more that we live holy lives, the more that our lights will be seen, and the more glory it will bring to God. Matthew 5:16 says, “LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE before men, that they may see your good works, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
Are you saved and shining for the glory of God?