A Touch of Glory
Andy Warhol once
said, “Everyone has 15 minutes of fame.”
While it might be one star this week, it will be another star next
week…and next. On the other hand, it can
be one regular Joe this week and another the next. And on it goes. Interestingly enough, many people make it
their life’s ambition to find a spotlight and stay there. It becomes their measure of value. They reason, the more people that know about
them and see what they’ve accomplished, the more their lives have meaning. Consequently, the better they feel about
themselves.
It goes all the way
back to the Garden of Eden. Mankind
was created with significance which came in a direct relationship with
God. He dwelt with God and found value
in that relationship. However, when the
breakdown occurred, man began to pursue it apart from God and has been trying
to do so ever since. When Warhol was
quoted, he wasn’t necessarily referring to T.V. coverage, front page stories or
radio interviews, though some do find that kind of attention. He, rather, was referring to a microcosm of
glory that each person will find it at some point. Somehow, somewhere, some way…it is bound to
come. Commonly, we’ve experienced it at
birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, special achievements, and yes, though
not as exhilirating. It will come at our funeral.
A writer for the Washington Post was
commenting on the paradox of glory.
He was standing in front of the nation’s Capitol when he saw the former
Secretary of State walking down the street.
It struck him that this man, who had been a powerful player in the
planning and strategizing of a previous presidential cabinet, was not a common
person “lacking the exposure he once held.”
He seemed to be lost and lacking any real purpose or hope. That’s the nature of glory. If we don’t keep it in perspective, it will
demoralize us to say the least.
Glory is a “what have
you done for me lately?” business.
People who are not currently in the new are what we refer to as
“has-been;’ everyone from Donald Trump , Jerry Seinfeld or the Beatles to
Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason and Joe DiMaggio.
Once they were at the height of popularity, and now they are simply
remembered by press clippings and film clips.
The Greek (or New
Testament) word for glory is “doxa.”
It’s where we get the word “doxology” or the “glory of God.” The Hebrew (or Old Testament) word for glory
is “kabod” which means “weightiness.” We
refer to God’s glory as that which has weightiness or substance. Unlike man, God’s glory comes not through
what He has done but from Who He is. (Exodus 3:14) One person wrote, “It si the exercise and
display of what constitutes the distinctive excellence of the subject to which
it is spoken, thus, in respect to God, His glory is the manifestation of His
divine attributes and perfections.”
Rather than pursuing
personal glory, believers in Jesus have the privilege of manifesting His glory
through their lives. As we honor Him
through our commitment, He is given the glory that is due His name. In a sense, we become His crowning glory.
1) God’s glory is manifested by
a righteous lifestyle (Matthew 5:16)
2) God’s glory is manifested in
genuine humility (1 Corinthians 1:31)
3) God’s glory is manifested
through praise and worship (1 Timothy 1:17)
Personal glory isn’t
all that it’s cracked up to be. It’s the
kind of glory that flames, flickers and fades. Ask any “has been.” But then, if you want to experience a touch
of true glory, worship the Eternal and Almighty God. The One who was, and is, and is to come.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) Why is glory so important to
most people?
2) How does loving God bring it
into perspective?
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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