Living from Glory to Glory

Do you know that you reflect what you behold? What you constantly look into you reproduce! What’s more, the Bible says that this is an ever-increasing process. What you look at intently will eventually influence you. In fact, sooner or later you will take on and reflect the very same image. Therefore, if you wish to know what you’re reproducing in your life, examine what you are constantly looking into (gazing at).

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

If you’ve been feeling down or discouraged; if you are confused and disappointed; if you have lost your way and lost your joy; you’ve probably been gazing at the wrong things. Paul confirms this at the end of the next chapter… “While we do not look at (gaze at) the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” [2 Corinthians 4:18].

If you desire to live your life from glory to glory, then you must be constantly looking into the eternal glory of the Lord Jesus. You cannot take your eyes off Him for a moment! In the Old Covenant, Moses alone was allowed to see the glory of the Lord. But he had to wear a veil to obscure the temporary nature of the glory on his face. Yet you and I can behold the glory of the Lord with an unveiled face. Unveiling your face is simply removing the veils of sin, of make-belief, of play-acting, of putting up defences, of all attempts at compromise, and of any religious hypocrisy.

Removing your veils is totally denying self and coming to Jesus vulnerable. The Lord wants to see you as you really are! When you approach Him in this way, His glory shines on you, and in you, and then through you.

Only when you become preoccupied with the glory of the risen, ascended and exalted Christ, can you be transformed into the very same image (into His exact likeness). Here is the secret of a victorious Christian life – preoccupation with the glory of Jesus Christ. Notice, it’s not by occupation with self; that brings defeat. It’s not by occupation with others; that brings about much disappointment. But only by occupation with the awe-inspiring glory of the Lord – hallelujah!

Furthermore, this incredible, transforming process takes place from glory to glory, that is, from one degree of glory to another – in ever-increasing measure! It is not a matter of instant change because there is no experience in the Christian walk that can reproduce His glorious image in a moment. It is a distinct and extraordinary process – designed by God and implemented by the Holy Spirit.

Treasure the fact that the power behind this wonderful process is the Holy Spirit – “just by the Spirit of the Lord.” As you behold the Lord of glory; as you study Him in His word, contemplate His ways, gaze intently at Him, adore and reverence Him, the Spirit of the Lord works in your life the awesome miracle of increasing conformity to His divine image. He wants you to be just like Himself! Whereas under the Old Covenant one man had the glory on his face temporarily, today it’s the blood-bought privilege of every child of God. Whereas Moses’ face reflected glory, your face radiates glory from the inside. Whereas his glory faded away, your glory increases – going from one degree of glory to the next.

But how do you handle the glory? Most Christians are amateurs at handling the glory of God. But the crux of the whole matter is very simple: Do you really want to behold His glory? When you do, only then will you learn how to properly handle reverence and steward the glory of God.

A. W. Tozer was deeply concerned about the loss of holiness in the church. To him, the lack of reverence meant people didn’t really think God’s presence was in the church. If they believed that God’s presence was in the church, surely they would have acted differently. The high priests of old would tell their fellow priests “Tie a rope around my ankle, because I’m going into a place where the glory of God abides.” These men were in total awe of the glory and had deep respect for the holy things of God. If they didn’t, they would die! Do you really believe that God’s glory is in ever-increasing measure, both in your own life and in the church, and then where is the awe and respect?

Its one thing asking Jesus to come into your life, but have you made provision for Him to come again? Have you given Him a permanent abode in your life? By preparing in this fashion you are preparing for the miraculous. Remember the barren woman who prepared the prophet’s room for Elijah in Second Kings Chapter 4, she was rewarded with a son. But when satan took him away in premature death, God sent the prophet to raise him up from the dead. But note the woman had already prepared a room for the miraculous. She had made provision for the prophet to come again. By faith you should accept that God’s glory will manifest again, and again, and again. And then you too must make provision for His glory by living a holy and sanctified life.

I believe that there are three vital requirements for ever-increasing glory to manifest:

[1] SEPARATION. “That He might make known the riches of His glory in vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.” God created you to be a container of His glory. But are you prepared to pay the price? Are you prepared to separate yourself unto God - to be set apart for God’s service? Separation requires discipline and cleanliness (Numbers 6:1-21). “And Aaron was set apart, he and his sons forever, that he should sanctify the most holy things” (1 Chronicles 23:13). God is not asking you to become a recluse. However, He does want you to be set apart from the world system and its evil influences. You may be in the world but you are not of this world. His glory can only manifest in and through vessels of honour - vessels that have been sanctified and are ready for His use. 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the later, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

[2] DEDICATION. In one of the most beautiful passages of the Bible, Hannah presented her young son Samuel to God in an act of dedication [1 Samuel 1:19-28]. Hannah vowed to take her son and appear before the Lord that he may remain in His presence forever. True dedication is a sincere desire to remain in the presence (glory) of God no matter what the circumstances. There is no better way of honouring God with your life.

Another form of dedication is the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose: dedication to your duties. Being dedicated to your duties, whether you are a mother, father, son or daughter, pleases God. The glory will not manifest in your life without dedication to your basic duties. It’s when you take care of the small things that God can trust you with the greater things.

[3] DETERMINATION. Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to. And it’s the same with God’s glory. A hesitant, double-minded or indecisive person cannot expect to receive anything from God (James 1:7). Including His manifest glory. If you are desirous of living from glory to glory, you should be full of faith and determined to stay the course. However, living with ever-increasing glory and being transformed into the image of Christ does draw enemy fire. Talking about spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:18 the apostle Paul says this, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Are you prepared to stand your ground in the face of any opposition? Are you determined enough for the cause of Jesus Christ to enforce the devil’s defeat? If you are, then the gates of hell will not prevail against you, and you will behold and reflect the glory of the risen Christ.

Anyone who desires to live his life from glory to glory, must be constantly looking into the eternal glory of the Lord Jesus. You cannot take your eyes off Him for a moment! And it’s only after you have decided to become preoccupied with the glory of the risen, ascended and exalted Christ, that you can start to be transformed into His likeness.

But remember, once this process is underway, three things are required of you:

(1) You must separate yourself from the things of this world.

(2) You must dedicate yourself to things of God.

(3) You must persevere to the end.

Chris Demetriou, 27/08/2006