God’s Glory Within Us

God’s Glory Within Us

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.” John 12:35-36.

The Jews were the first to be offered this great and rich opportunity to be children of the light. Jesus came and put the lampstand in their midst. What grace and glory that was! He wanted to share all His heavenly riches with them, but on condition that they would come into light and purity with their lives. Then He could have fellowship with them and establish His new covenant with them. However, they clung to their evil works and loved darkness more than light. Jesus wept over them, but they were not willing to have fellowship with Him.

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” Matt. 21:43. That brief and rich period of time was soon over, and the lampstand was moved to the Gentiles; the Jews were left hardened and in darkness. Jesus did, in fact, depart and was hidden from them, and He will not reveal Himself to them before He comes again, together with His bride, and descends on the Mount of Olives to establish the millennium.

The time of the Gentiles who have had great and abundant opportunities will also soon be past, and darkness will cover the greater part of the earth. Jesus will depart, and He will be hidden for all those who do not walk in the light and bear its fruits.

Many people praise the glory and the light that radiates from God, from Jesus Christ, and from God’s Word, but what good is that if this light and glory do not radiate from them?

The Word was with God, and thus also all glory. However, this Word dwelt in Jesus and became flesh in Him when He sojourned here on earth. He partook more and more of the glory of the Father as He walked in the light. The fullness of the Godhead came to dwell in Him bodily. He relinquished being like the Father, but became conformed to the Father again in life’s many temptations, sufferings, and trials by having His Father’s will revealed to Him, and then doing it. Now He has shown us the way to this same glory of which He Himself partook, and which is in the Father.

We need to get this glory within us now; otherwise, we will never get it into us. We have the light among us for a short time, and now it is vital for us to love the truth, so that God’s light can come into us as much as possible and radiate from us in all our works and words. The time of grace is short but filled with opportunities and abundant possibilities to partake of this exceeding and eternal glory. John says in 2 John 2 that the truth that abides in us will be with us forever.

Jesus is called The Word of God (Rev. 19:13), and now the question is how much this name has become true and real in us. We are eternal beings only to the degree that God’s Word abides in us and has become our true life. Someone who is dissatisfied, bitter, and impatient is not a personality in God’s kingdom. However, if it can truly be said about a person in life’s trials that patience, thankfulness, truth, righteousness, and brotherly love are visibly walking on two feet, then he is truly a great and glorious personality. He walks about here in this world with God’s glory within himself, and he takes it with him into the heavenly dwelling places. He has received his glory from God; therefore it is fitting for this glory to be with God.

Those who have been occupied with gathering everything else but the virtues of Christ will leave this world disappointed and poor. They will take nothing with them, and God has no use for such “gifted people” in His kingdom.

In Psalm 45:13 we read about the bride: “The royal daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is woven with gold.” She has received the glory of Christ within her, and her works are found worthy before God. They are woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King, into His palace, in robes of many colors, with gladness and rejoicing. Vs. 14-15.

Yes, there is truly a future for the God-fearing who know how to make good use of the time of grace. One’s youth time is an exceedingly valuable time for gathering eternal treasures, so it is costly to throw away this time on useless and nonessential things. Blessed are those who understand that their time is short and make use of it.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6.