Word of Encouragement (9/22/2021)
Yesterday, we began our reflection on Peter’s short doxology at the end of his epistle: “To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18). We talked about how beneficial it is to have doxology as a regular part of our prayer. Today’s let’s reflect on the content of this doxology.
In it, Peter ascribes glory to God. The Greek word for glory (doxa) can be defined as “brightness, splendor, radiance” as well as “magnificence and greatness” and “fame, recognition, renown, honor, prestige” (BDAG). Glory belongs to God above all else. This doesn’t just mean that God is the most glorious Being of all; He is the essence and fullness of glory. Everything and everyone that can be considered glorious shines with a “borrowed ray” from God’s glory.
Glory is attractive. We are drawn to it, either to admire those who possess it or to possess it ourselves. We want to get close to the “glorious” ones—think about how crazy some fans get in the presence of a celebrity or how someone would be willing to pay two million dollars just to have lunch with Warren Buffet. People pay tens of thousands of dollars to travel to an exotic place to marvel at a beautiful landscape/seascape (because there is glory in beauty). And they boast about what they saw and experienced (because there is glory in coming into contact with something glorious. Isn’t this why most people love to engage in “name-dropping”?).
If so, we should be drawn to God most of all, shouldn’t we? Of course, we cannot see God’s glory directly: “...he... is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (1 Tim. 6:15-16). Finite creatures with finite minds, who are confined in time and space (not to mention their fallen condition), cannot behold God’s glory directly and live. But God was pleased to reveal Himself to us through His creation (i.e., natural revelation). All the glorious things of the universe are but His handiworks, pointing to the glory of God, who created them all. If they are glorious enough that the ancient people worshipped them and even modern scientists experience something akin to a religious experience as they discover the mysteries of the universe, how much greater must be the glory of God, who created them! When it comes to the glory of God, we must use our God-given imagination. But, of course, His glory will be greater than our greatest imagination!
Then, why are we not flocking to God to praise and worship Him for His surpassing glory? Precisely because His divine glory is exceedingly great. If His earthly creations were awesome enough to cause the ancient people to bow down and worship them (rather than the Creator), what effect would His unmediated glory have on people, let alone sinners? What was people’s response when they came into contact with the “outskirts” of His glory in His theophanies (i.e., the appearances of God)? They were terrified (either during their encounter or after they realized what happened) and thought they would surely die! Sinners, whose hearts are not changed by the Holy Spirit, are not attracted to the glory of God; they are terrified by it!
If Peter can ascribe glory to God and delight in God’s glory, it is only because God has revealed His glory through His special revelation (i.e., our redemption in Jesus Christ). Only those, whose hearts are born of the Spirit and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, can be drawn to God’s glory and delight in it. Through our redemption in Jesus Christ, God has shown us the surpassing glory of His grace and love for us. Because of the revelation of God’s glorious grace, we can know the true meaning and appreciate the glory of God in creation.
By coming into contact with the glory of God’s grace, we have become glorious ones (even though we on our own are unworthy, hell-deserving sinners). There is only one legitimate, good “name-dropping” and it is to boast of our union with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us ascribe glory to God—not only of the glory of His power, wisdom, and beauty in His creation but also of the surpassing glory of His grace in redeeming us and all those, who will also come to know it through our boasting (i.e., evangelism)!