“And he said, Please show me Your glory”. Exodus 33:18 (NKJV)
During these next few weeks many Christians feel closer to God as we enter the season called “Advent”. As we examine the Scriptures to understand how God’s chosen people prepared for the birth of the Messiah, Christ Jesus, we see that Advent is a time of great expectation. It is quite a blessing to read the Old Testament prophets tell in such detail of His incarnation into mankind; never before had God become man, and He sure stirred the emotions and attitudes of a dark and dreary world.
But what about us? What about those of us who live two millennia in the future since His birth; what do we have to celebrate about Advent? Obviously we can’t be there when Jesus was born but we can look forward, forward to His appearing to take away the Church. In that moment that is unknown except to God, we will see His glory as He comes for His own. That’s right, the same Glory that Moses asked God to show him in our verse for today, will fill the heavens with its wonder.
But, there is great news for those of us who are on Earth today. We can see His glory while we yet live; that’s right, we, you and I, can actually see the glory of God while we live. Find the Gospel of John in your Bible and turn to 11:40. It’s the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. After Martha had expressed her concerns, Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” So we see that faith is what is required if we are to see the glory of God here on Earth; not just any faith, but faith that accepts the impossible as matter of fact, knowing that nothing is impossible with God, then our faith ushers in the miraculous. So then what is the glory of God? Is it some whirlwind of color, light, and sound? I suppose this could be the case, but isn’t it more likely (according to scripture) being so acutely aware of God’s presence that we are drawn in and completely engulfed by that presence as the result of a faith in the impossible that is without explanation? Believe, trust, do not doubt, and we will see His glory all around us.
