Glory
“to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:5)
Glory – we do not use that word anymore. One wonders why. Within Presbyterianism, most children learn the Westminster Shorter Catechism which asks: “What is man’s chief end?” The answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” To glorify implies our purpose, but it also carries with it the idea that God is an object worthy of glory. But what makes God worthy of glory?
The Hebrew word for “glory” carries the connotation of “weighty.” Can you see the connection? When God appeared at Sinai, the very mountains shook under the weight of glory. When Isaiah saw Christ seated upon the throne, Isaiah could barely speak – almost as one crushed under a heavy weight (Isaiah 6; John 12:41). Prophets, apostles, angels, and beasts all fall down before the weight of glory. Who can lift their head before the God who made heaven, earth, the seas and all that is in them? Who can lift their head before the God who governs the heavenly spheres, calling the magnificent stars out by name and making the swallows a home? Who can lift their head before the God who casts fallen angels into chains and gloom and fallen man into hellfire? Who can lift their head before the God who redeemed His people by the precious blood of His Son? Are you seeing a trend here? In all of these events, God did not need our help. Were any of us His counselor? Did any of us lend a hand? God is “infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. “
From the very beginning of Galatians, Paul defends the glory of God from the least taint of human endeavors. As Calvin says: “The glory of God shines, indeed, in all creatures on high and below, but never more brightly than in the cross.” Every ounce of human effort which detracts from the glory of Christ crucified deserves to be demolished and cast to the four corners of the earth. All glory to God alone, for He is not the helper of our salvation but the Author of our salvation!
Tell me something, readers. What are we doing to bring glory to God? How do we in our speech and our actions cast away all glory which comes from man so that we can give glory to God? As Paul says in Titus 2:10 - “in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” Does your everything serve that purpose? Are you glorifying God and enjoying Him forever?
