Glory

[eaglesway]

Some thoughts on God's glory.

When we hear the word glory, in relation to God, we may hear "credit", "fanfare", "acclaim for greatness". This not what glory really is. Glory is the presence of God. It is the emination of His essence in a way that can be perceived, and acknowledged. It is the evidence of union with God, and expression of His indwelling in us and manifestations toward us.

Romans 8 explains that the creation was not subjected to futility of its own accord- but it was subjected in hope. Hope with God is not as hope with man. Man hopes and it is like this, "I hope this or that happens." When in reference to God, His hope is simply the as yet unfulfilled but predetermined goal of His plan- who causes all things to work according to the counsel of His will. That is why "Hope makes not ashamed", and we "exult in the hope of the glory of God"- which is the fulfillment of the promise that God will be all in all.

That is why the truth of the restoration of all things is so imprtant to the gospel. Without it, there is no context from which to determine His plan from the beginning, which was to create a family of friends who share intimately and fully the joy of absolute freedom in absolute love in unrestricted fellowship.

So we must go to the original purpose of God(to become all in all n a huge family of creation) to understand the method of God, which was to create us in perfection, then to teach us through chaos what we could never learn through perfection, and to share that learning with us through Christ in a way that makes us one from both directions.

We think as if this life and living it is the goal. It is not. Life is the method through which God achieves the goal, our education- which is a superficial word for "revealing His glory in us", by giving us all things in Christ as sons and daughters.

So.....futility is the set. Within it chaos spins and wrecks havoc with our best intentions. In every life the end result will be the same. His glory revealed within an "educated" being. A being fully open and aware of love as grace poured out upon dry ground to yield trees of life. In this age suffering is the lot of all mankind. Within the futility many chaotic destructive events occur as the result of our state of being- which is chaotic due to self will.

The chaos is the result of God having given us the reins. His goal is that we will learn to give them back to Him, so He can give them back to us as we become more like Him, until finally He is all in all, and there is no longer any need for rule, power and authority.

So God does not blind someone so that He can get glory(fame renown credit acclaim). Blindness and all the attendant evils of futility are the result of the method through which God bound all things in chaos, until all things should be restored by ever-increasing manifestations of love. Love is the glory of God, and we are a sort of first-fruits of His (new)creation. He is intervening in the chaotic state of our futility in order to draw us into His glory, which is the new creation- the total fusion of God within His creatures. That's why the whole creation will be set free from futility into the "glorious liberty of the children of God".

[Dandelion]

To eaglesway: I agree that absolutely and thankfully, the living of this life is not the goal, but that God is teaching us.

So we must go to the original purpose of God(to become all in all n a huge family of creation) to understand the method of God, which was to create us in perfection, then to teach us through chaos what we could never learn through perfection, and to share that learning with us through Christ in a way that makes us one from both directions.
eaglesway

Love that sentence.

Yes, we have the ability to follow our own will or God's will. Often, after we have crashed into several 'walls' many of us realize His is the better way. Not that we still don't have some crashes and bumps and bruises, in the spiritual sense, but we realize that we need to look to Him and not to ourselves. Then, we gradually, with His grace, grow in His ways, until we are ready to be citizens of Heaven. We are here to give God glory. Each of us has a testimony, and that testimony will always point to His compassion, forgiveness, and faithfulness towards us, and how He saved us from our sin, through our trust and faith in Him, as our Lord and Savior. And yes, to unite us to Him and one another.....the Body of Christ.

...5in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.... Philippians 1: 5 - 7    :girlangel: