Pondering the Glory of God: Reflecting His Character to the World

The glory of God is the visible manifestation of His attributes and His character. “Glory describes all the things God is full of—His wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion—all the things that make Him weighty and wonderful, made manifest for us to see and experience and respond to” (Dr. Donnie Berry). 

God's glory is the ultimate purpose behind creation, the story of Jesus Christ, and the transformation of believers who are called to live for His glory. 

God, the eternally glorious one, created the world in order to share and display His glory. The psalmist, David, tells us that “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). We are meant to look upon the heavens, at the sun, the moon, and the stars, and see in them reflections that point back to their source, the God who is glorious.

Jesus is the fullest expression of God’s glory--God’s very person, presence, character and nature in flesh and blood. John tells us: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God, the exact representation of His nature” (Heb. 1:3a).

Genesis tells us that God created humans “in [his] image, after [his] own likeness” (Genesis 1:26). We are meant to be like God—reflecting who He is and what He is like as we exercise dominion and stewardship in the world (Genesis 1:26-28). David refers to this exalted status given to human beings in creation by proclaiming that God “crowned him with glory and majesty!” (Psalm 8:5). Humans were meant to be the reflections of God’s glory on the earth.

Although humans were the pinnacle of God’s creation, because of sin, we have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However, in Christ we are being conformed to the image of His Son once more (Romans 8:29). Through redemption in Christ, God is restoring us to the glory for which we were intended: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When I have failed to love the way I know I should, I have not merely been impatient or unkind or proud or selfish; I have fallen short of God’s glory. I have failed to be like Him. I have expressed something less than the truth about what God is like, since my actions toward others are intended to be reflections of Him. Such behavior leads me to repentance and restoration by the Spirit of God, to reflect more of what God is like in my own life.

The glory of God often looks for a dwelling place. The original house for the glory of God was the tabernacle. But under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit builds a temple in every believer. First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” We are God’s house—His temple. Only, this temple is no longer confined to a fixed location. This house can walk and talk and share the gospel! “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).                                   

God, please open my eyes to see your glory, and as I do, may my life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reflect or shine your glory to others to further your Kingdom purposes!