Christianity Oasis Forum

[saint701]

Greetings Christianity Oasis, All,



Blessings!


Glory of Man; Glory of God

I have a topic rolling around in my head that goes close in hand with the idea that the punishment of Israel down through the years was in microcosm what the Tribulation will be to the rest of the world when it comes that time. We understand that tribulation comes on man because he thinks his way to heaven is better than the way God has made for us. He scoffs at the idea the work of faith in Christ Jesus will gain him heaven. Of consequence he believes his works are superior in value to that of the working of God in us. He doesn’t understand that his working will only bring destruction of one’s self. So…why does one seek his own glory knowing that glory is temporary and worthless in the eyes of God? Why doesn’t one pursue the glory of God that lasts forever? Why doesn’t one understand seeking one’s own glory is akin to spitting in the Almighty God’s face? Why doesn’t one understand that one’s own glory is rewarded with tribulation? There is no heaven beyond earth for those that seek to fulfill the law of God by their works within themselves. Seeking one’s own glory is the same as seeking the destruction of one’s self. Only God within a man can perfect a man in the fulfillment of God’s law. What is God’s perfect work in us? It is love. And it is God’s love, and only He can perfect His love in us because by any other means it is impossible for us to grow in God’s love, without God growing it within us. It is impossible for man to grow God’s love within them without God being in them to grow His love.

Now we have 2 perspectives explaining why there must be a tribulation for man. Man rejects Christ working in them to fulfill His law the same as Israel did when they sent Him to the cross. Almost 2,000 years of tribulation followed. Consider the extraordinarily brutal affliction of Israel culminating in the death of 6 million at the hands of Hitler. God spoke to us in that atrocity. He showed us the brutal punishment of those that seek life through the keeping of the law. He also told us that the way of all men in the world would bring the same harsh punishment Israel received. Why? Man’s way denies God’s way. It is the same as spitting in God’s face. Israel’s stiff necked hard hearted way is seen in many around the world today. The reward for such is tribulation. Why choose the horrors of the Tribulation over the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus? The reason is pride in one’s own way.

Akin to the pride of life in the working of one’s own way comes the glorification of one’s self through that same pride of life. Man loves to glorify himself. He holds ceremonies for those that have been given superior positions in the world. We marvel at their accomplishments not understanding their glory does not translate into the glory of God. More than once I have heard a professional athlete describe their induction into a hall of fame as heaven on earth to them. Such is akin to spitting in God’s face. Why didn’t they give God all of the glory for their accomplishments? Do they think they can stand face to face with God who died for them and offer their hall of fame ring, or their placard of achievement or their Grammy or their Oscar...most thank everyone near to them in their work as the reason for their glorification…few thank God. Those that tend to thank God for their accomplishments also tend to be vilified by the world.

Those that boast of their own glory are naked before God. Those that seek the glory of God, His love, His life in them, His glory…the same are clothed in the glory of God. God has made provision for all to be partakers of His glory through His working in them, but few take that to heart. Most prefer their glory to that of the glory of God for those that love Him. Those that love themselves and glory in their own achievements rather than God’s achievement in them spit in God’s face. Why choose the horrors of tribulation for those that seek their own glory rather than the glory of God that God works in them His eternal life and His glory?

Just as Israel was scattered among the nations to be hunted, persecuted, and destroyed over the course of 2,000 years for rejecting God’s provisions for them, tribulation comes on the whole world equal to the affliction of the Jews for worshipping their own works, and for seeking their own glory…rather than seeking the works of God in them, and the glory of God in them…the glory of God that fills us with His love and eternal life, makes us His sons and daughters, and clothes us with an eternal weight of His glory. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the only acceptable life in the eyes of God. Repent, and seek Him while He may be found.



Blessings!
Love, in Christ Jesus, Saint701.