The Ultimate Hope: Seeing the Glory of God!

Seeing the Glory of God: Our Ultimate Hope

Have you ever wondered what our ultimate hope as Christians is? What is it that we long for and rejoice in? According to the Bible, our ultimate hope is to see the glory of God. In Romans 5:2, it says, "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." This hope is not something abstract or distant, but something that we can truly rejoice in.

The glory of God is a central theme throughout the Bible. It is the ultimate display of His beauty, power, and goodness. In Exodus 33:18-19, Moses asks God, "Please show me your glory." And God responds, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The Lord'." In this encounter, Moses catches a glimpse of God's glory, His goodness and His character.

But how do we, as believers, get to see the glory of God? The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:2 that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we obtain access to this grace in which we stand. Jesus, in all his person and work, is the incarnation and ultimate revelation of the glory of God. Hebrews 1:3 says, "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature." Through Jesus, we can see and experience the glory of God.

Our hope in seeing the glory of God is not just a wishful thinking, but a certain and secure hope. Jude 24 says that God will "present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy." He has prepared beforehand vessels of mercy for glory (Romans 9:23) and he calls us into his own kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). Our hope is anchored in the promise that we will be with Jesus and see his glory (John 17:24).

The glory of God is not just something that we will see in the future, but something that we can experience and participate in even now. 1 Peter 5:1 says that we are partakers in the glory that is going to be revealed. Romans 8:21 tells us that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. As believers, we are called to live in the light of this hope and to reflect the glory of God in our lives.

So, how can we cultivate a greater longing and anticipation for the glory of God? First, we need to study and meditate on the glory of God. We can do this by studying the glory of God in the Scriptures, particularly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. As we behold his glory, we are transformed into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Second, we need to treasure the glory of God above all else. We live in a world that is constantly bombarding us with competing glories. There are so many things that can distract us and captivate our hearts and minds. But we need to let all these glories collapse like the pagan idol Dagon in 1 Samuel 5:4. We need to treasure the glory of God above all the fleeting and empty glories of this world.

Third, we need to examine our own hearts and souls. What are the glories that we are seduced by? What are the things that we treasure and value more than the glory of God? Are there idols in our lives that we need to let shatter on the floor of the world's temples? We need to constantly evaluate our desires and affections and align them with the glory of God.

Finally, we need to live in the light of our hope in the glory of God. This means living with a sense of urgency and purpose, knowing that this world and all its glories are passing away. It means living for the glory of God in all that we do, whether it is in our work, our relationships, or our service to others. It means living with an eternal perspective, knowing that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).

In conclusion, the glory of God is our ultimate hope as Christians. It is the beauty, power, and goodness of God displayed in all its fullness. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have access to this grace in which we stand, and we can rejoice in the hope of seeing the glory of God. This hope is not just a distant and abstract concept, but something that we can truly experience and participate in. Let us study and treasure the glory of God, let us examine our own hearts and souls, and let us live in the light of our hope in the glory of God.