Understanding the Importance of the Order of Things | Part Five
Our theme for the term is “Understanding the importance of the order of things.”
Last week we concluded that everything God does, He does for His own name’s sake, for His own glory; to the praise of His glory and grace.
If this is God’s primary concern, of what value is that to us? The answer is that it is the greatest benefit we will ever receive!
It is an incomplete definition – but we could say that “God’s glory is the perfect harmony of all His attributes in one ultimate, glorious and completely beautiful being.”
He IS perfection. He IS Holiness. He IS truth. He IS righteousness. He IS grace. He IS compassion…
When God says that He created us for His glory, it cannot mean that He created us so that we would make Him more glorious; that His beauty and perfection would be somehow increased by us. It is rather that we would be changed by Him and become like Him; thus pointing to His glory!
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.[1]
Just consider, God is the perfect Creator and Sustainer of the universe – He is the Lord and King of all that is. His desire is to be our Father. His desire is to redeem us from our rebellion into His glorious Kingdom. What is the nature of this King? All glory, perfection, beauty and goodness!
Would we want to be citizens of a King who was not love, not justice, not holiness, not compassion – would we want to be in a kingdom of doubt and insecurity about the nature of the king?
The God of glory acts out of perfect love, holiness, goodness, mercy, grace, faithfulness… God acts according to who He is. He loves because He is loving. He acts rightly because He is righteousness. As He acts, He displays Himself; and as He displays Himself, He glorifies Himself.
God is utter glory and the persons of the Trinity exhibit and act in the fullness of this glory – This is THE most securing thing.
The persons of the Trinity love one another perfectly – in that truth we are secured in the love of God. The best thing human parents can do for their children is to love one another – this secures children who know that they are enveloped in that same love.
We have total security in the God of Great Glory.
Knowing our security in Him enables us to love one another. This correct ordering is of VITAL importance.
Blessings
Brian
When we know that the three persons of the Trinity are committed eternally to covenant love, how does this cause us to be secured and to love one another?
[1] 2 Corinthians 3:18