God's Glory Manifested
God's glory was seen in the Old Testament in several ways. As a fire and a burning bush (Zechariah 2:5 and Exodus 3:2), as a pillar of smoke and fire (Exodus 13: 21-22), as a gentle breeze (I Kings 19: 10-13) and as a cloud (Exodus 24: 16-18, Exodus 33:9, and I Kings 8: 10-13). These physical manifestations were shown to the people so they would know that God's presence was with them. These experiences of God's glory had one thing in common, they were only temporary.
God's Glory In The Temple
In Exodus 25:8 God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle so that, as God says, "I will dwell among them.", meaning the people of Israel. In Exodus 40:34-35 we learn that a cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In later scriptures we learn that God's glory also filled Solomon's temple. Before the Babylonians destroyed the temple, however, God's glory left. He did this because the people would not abandon their false and idolatrous worship of other gods. Even when the temple was rebuilt God's glory did not return. This is described in Ezekiel chapters 10 and 11.
The Hope of Glory
God's glory departing Israel was prophesied in two places. In Deuteronomy 31: 17-18 and in Hosea 9: 12, "Woe to them that I depart from them," says God. Even today as individuals you and I have a choice to make; be faithful to God or reject Him. As Paul says in Colossians 1: 27,
"Christ in you, the hope of Glory."
God's Glory Returns
But when did God's glory return to the world? In Luke 2: 9, the shepherds were surrounded by the glory of the Lord to announce the birth of Jesus. In Matthew 1: 23, we learn that our Savior would be called Immanuel, meaning God is with us. After Jesus's death and resurrection He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in each of us who are His. In Acts 7: 48, Stephen tells us that God no longer dwells in a temple made with hands. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:16, "we are the temple of the living God."
At the Last Supper in John 14:23, Jesus says,
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
Our love for Christ, and the evidence that He lives in us, is our obedience. 1 John 4:16, tells us that if we have love, then God is in us because God IS love.
God's Glory Transforms Us
Finally, we read in 2 Corinthians 12-18, that as Christians we are being transformed to become more like Christ. The veil is lifted by our faith in Him and this is done by the Holy Spirit of God. This veil was created by sin and keeps us from understanding the truth of Christ. Only when it is removed by faith can we be transformed to behold the glory of God. For this reason we abound in hope.
God Is Worthy
My prayer each day should be that it is lived for God's glory and not my own. My prayer is to praise God as in Revelation 4: 11,
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
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