What is glory? How do we “gain” it?

What is Glory?

A favourite bible teacher of mine says that glory, simply, is that which makes us go “wow!” It makes me think of epic movie scenes. When William Wallace gives his great speech. When Neo becomes “the one.” Gandalf arrives with the Riders of Rohan. Thor gets Stormbreaker. Tony Stark snaps his fingers. Glorious moments – these make us go “wow!”

The Bible speaks of a counter-intuitive kind of glory. Jesus was “glorified” on the cross (John 13:31) and through death. Yet those who understand those dark moments know what came after and what is still yet to come. That glory isn’t totally fulfilled yet. It manifested in Jesus’ sacrificial death. It was more obvious in his resurrection. It is continuing to manifest through his ambassadors in the Church. It will consummate in his final victory over evil and the celebratory wedding feast (Rev. 19:6-9; Matt. 26:29).

Christians talk of “future glory” or the glory that awaits us in death. Death leads to the next phase of existence. There will be a future resurrection to eternal life. Then, a glorious battle to end all evil (1 Cor. 15:20-28). Finally, a glorious feast to celebrate an eternity in a Redeemed Realm. A New Heavens and New Earth – the New Universe, ruled by a Glorious King (Rev. 21:1-8).  

This story produces in us a sort of pre-emptive “wow!” But when it comes, we will forever be in a “wow!” state. This is the picture of the Redeemed People before the Throne of God in Revelation 7. We will praise God forever more. It won’t be a worship concert for the rest of eternity. But our hearts and our mouths will be ever praising God as we live out life the way it was meant to be lived in our New Universe. Glorious.

The Cross of Jesus might seem dark – as might the difficulties we face in this broken world. But they are glorious in a backwards sort of way when we see their eternal purpose. The Cross of Jesus was simultaneously the most unjust thing to ever occur and the most fantastic thing to ever occur. It was glorious because it was the ultimate manifestation of divine love. The world was being saved from sin, and a path to the divine was being paved.

So Jesus’ glory is manifest in his death. It is also manifest in his church who becomes his righteousness even as he takes the cosmic penalty of their sin (2 Cor. 5:21). It will consummate in his return and reverberate through eternity.

All the Universe was meant for this purpose: the glory of God. God is for his glory, and we are wired to enjoy and be satisfied in it!

How do we “gain” glory?

In one sense, we gain glory when we die and ultimately unite with God for eternity. We gain the Redeemed Realm and enjoy the Glorious King’s presence.

In another sense, we don’t “gain” the glory of God. We glorify God – which perhaps means that we manifest God’s glory. We aim to make others see him and go “wow!”

The early church father Tertullian once used a striking phrase. He writes to some of his contemporaries about their coming persecutions and the possible martyrdom that awaited them. He asks, “Why should you be ashamed of gaining glory?” His meaning is simple: If you die for your King, Jesus (for associating with him and living like him), why should you care what others think?

For the Christian, being associated with Jesus in death or in life means to partake of and receive the divine glory. It’s to be part of God’s story, and therefore nothing to be ashamed of. Thus the Apostle Paul can say, “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

So it is in what we do that we partake of glory. But we also become more glorious ourselves as we become more like the Glorious One. We manifest God’s glory in living like Jesus.

How do we manifest God’s glory?

Perhaps in many ways, being an image bearer. But the primary way is through manifesting the righteousness of God. It is to live as a Kingdom member, an ambassador of King Jesus. Just as Jesus Christ was the imprint of the divine nature, so we are mini-imprints who reflect the divine glory to a world that falls short.

This is not to say we no longer fall short. We do. But where we do fall short, we acknowledge it and point to the sufficiency of Jesus, the Great Compensator, and his sacrifice on the cross, the Great Compensation, you might call it.

So this glory is a great paradox. We, by God’s grace and power, seek to live lives fitting of our Divine Kingdom that is our home. A glorious kind of righteousness should be manifesting in our lives, that we acknowledge is not our own. And yet we acknowledge that we are no more worthy of this Kingdom than our unbelieving neighbours, and fall short often. We are thus always pointing to God as the giver of righteousness and the one who forgives and deals with our failures and evils. God forgives. God makes righteous. It is all about him.

This is how we manifest the glory of God. We tell this story – his story. We talk of his character. We remind ourselves and others of how we fall short of it. We praise him that he loves us just the same, and graciously gives us gifts we do not deserve. We talk of his grace.

Nonetheless, there come many questions when trying to seek the Kingdom. What do we make of this or that cultural belief? How should I live in this unique time? So this blog will be about not only theology, but applied theology. Or, as I’m terming it, Lifestyle Theology.

This is intentionally broad because I hate limitations. But it’s sufficiently focused that we won’t get lost.

If you’re a Christian, and especially a Christian man, this blog will be for you. If you’re an unbeliever and a skeptic looking for some answers or curious about faith, you’ll find it accessible and challenging.

To the glory of God, 2019.