1268. The Glory of God, Our Consuming Consideration

The Glory of God, Our Consuming Consideration

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2Co_4:17-18).

Perhaps the greatest need of the believer is to place the right value upon the things about him. So many people are giving their whole attention to the things which are temporal and earthly. Riches from the Divine viewpoint consist not in what a man possesses, as the world counts possessions; not in the riches of this age, which are effervescent and passing.

"Change and decay in all around I see,

Oh, Thou Who changest not, abide with me!"

We are plainly taught to "love not the world neither the things that are in the world." We are just as plainly taught that they who will be rich have erred from the faith. They have fallen into temptation and a snare.

When God talks of riches He speaks of "rich in mercy," and "rich in love," and "rich in glory," and "rich in faith."

The great consuming passion of a child of God should be to seek these things which are contained in the one expression, "The glory of God." For the glory of God places emphasis upon the character of God, and it includes all the unbounded stores of God's holiness, justice, grace, mercy and wisdom.

This "glory of God" will alone abide, it is alone of exceeding weight, and it is alone an eternal weight of glory.

The man who lives for the things down here will have nothing up there.

No marvel that Paul, when he saw this truth, cried, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

When Christians see that the glory of God outweighs all the glories of the flesh, and will outlive all the glories of this present age; he will be willing, like Moses to esteem even the reproaches of Christ as greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt. He will reckon that even the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory to be revealed in us.

The Psalmist said, "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Over man's highest achievements, and greatest acquirements we can but write, "vanishing things."

Let none of us seek for human glory, and for the riches that perish; let us rather lay hold upon that for which we have been laid hold upon by Christ. Let us reach forth to the things which are before. Let us seek the glory of God.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR