Where Christ Is Still Glorified

God's treasure of inestimable value

Photo by David Ballew on Unsplash

In pursuit of man’s glory

There is a generation of young people in search of reality and meaning. The meaning and reality they have defined. This is something we should celebrate - it is noble. But... they rampage for the glory anywhere the road leads. The young man wouldn’t mind holding a “celebrity” fraudster as a secret admirer. Oh, you think that’s extreme? What about the ones who wouldn’t mind writing off their morality for fame or suspending their integrity to make one big hit? Our society is not as civilised as we think. The “cancer” in man’s heart only awaits a convenient time and an opportunity to show its head.

These issues didn’t begin today. Many years ago, we permitted them in bits. Our excuse was civilisation and enlightenment. It soon grew beyond that. People spoke boldly and openly about “freedom”. They wanted a life of their own, and society offered them as much as they asked. Then, there is a great divide between what was and what is. The older generation has given up the chase on the new shiny generation of freedom fighters. It’s hard to caution someone on their action, and Ms. Elena (no offence if you’re Elena) doesn’t slam the door on you, yelling, “Let them be, it is their life”. Of course, it’s their life, but we all want a sane society.

If you care to know what the pursuit is, I can tell you for free: happiness, fame and wealth. There is a glory that comes with these. It is the glory of man. What is wrong with happiness, fame and wealth? Nothing! But you may be bewildered by how people can chase good things in the wrong way. They say “the end justifies the means”. I am unsure what that means and am not ready to look it up either. But I guess it means if you can get it, “go get it”. Who cares how!!!

“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” Luke 4:5-7.

A Great misconception

It is sad that in our bid for reality, we lose touch with reality. In the same way, the Jews missed Jesus. We look in the wrong places for the essence of life. We want the best, but we don’t know how to get it. Someone said, “The best place to hide something is in plain sight”. How true!

Kings are made for the palace. So it was a common misconception that Christ would be born in one. Biblical prophecies have him as Israel's coming messiah and king, which must have fuelled the assumptions of the day. When Jesus finally came, only a few could find him. King Herod could not, and a host of others. The same is true today. How many can find Jesus?

The three magi, just by divine direction, found Christ, no books, no maps, no flamboyant religious background or activities. Just simple willingness and obedience. They reached their reality without the numerous religious artefacts available to the Pharisees, scribes and priests.

The treasures of God are not locked up in the palace or ‘exalted’ places of the world, not even in religious buildings. So, where can we find them? Good question. Where did the magi find Jesus? First, to put things straight, the issue is not that God’s treasures are found in common places, but the issue is that of definition. Our definition of treasure does not tally with God’s. Just like us, the Israelites’ idea of the messiah was the picture of a “glorified” king, like Herod, sitting on a human throne or at least of such lofty descent. They sincerely waited for a messiah, but when he came, they missed him even when he was accessible to all.

A metric of worldly standard

Where the devil does not seduce, he coerces with sure pressure for earthly gains, that will soon be gone like mist. He sets the standards of the world. There is no way such standards can reap any eternal benefit. We cannot by the flesh please God. No! For anything that is done in the flesh must perish. All of it.

Who defines our standards as Christians? Our standard of living, education, communication, fashion, pursuit, and child training. Surely, we theoretically know the answer. But do we live the answer? Do we not go back to our bed of comfort and follow the path of ease? How easy it is to quickly borrow what we see in the world if we don’t follow divine standards.

We are mocked for not being as wise as they are, yet we possess all wisdom. We are labelled poor, yet we’re rich in all things. The Christian represents what the world considers weakness: chastity, humility, meekness, gentleness, trust, absolute surrender, self-denial, modesty, and integrity. Therefore, the metrics of the world can not be used to measure the value of a believer. We hear of people who are worth billions. This metric can not be used on a believer, even though the believer can possess billions in earthly currency. Our worth is not in any human currency. It means nothing to us. 1 Corinthians 2:13 There is no yardstick for comparing a believer to a dying sinner, no matter what such a person owns. The world can worship money and its possessors, but no way these worldly idols can be compared to one who is redeemed by Christ.

When you’re tempted to ask why believers are not among the richest people on earth, then you should know that while the believer can be part of the richest people on earth, that is not his pursuit; however, that is not true for a natural man. A natural man is mindful of worldly gains. 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

The believer has been called to be fishers of men and not miners of gold (Matthew 4:19). The world can fall at the feet of the possessor of the goods of this world, but we worship Christ the crucified. One believer is worth more than anything the eyes can see and that men can own. The believer is the life of Christ personified. We don’t speak of the shameful things of darkness. We look not unto them that dwell in darkness, nor do we feast on their delicacy.

Where Christ is still glorified

We commonly associate glory with shiny things. But it will amaze us how God thinks differently. The Glory of God is not necessarily in famous individuals or big cathedrals but in those who follow him wholeheartedly, whether such a person is of any human value or not. For in the kingdom of God, there is neither Jew nor Greek, rich or poor … what belongs to one belongs to all . . . for you are all one in Christ. Galatians 3:28

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels... vessels that are not ashamed of Christ, whose pursuit is to glorify their Lord and not themselves. In these is Christ glorified. They yearn to meet the bridegroom, to see His kingdom established on earth. The charm of the world has lost its power on them, and He is their sufficiency. They know this basic truth that Christ has to be lord of all or not lord at all. Their worth and value are not earthly, nor can they be measured. They are possessors of God and all that is his. I challenge you today to cast your dreams of ease away and join God’s valiant and happy army. God bless you as you yield to this call.