Glory!

Why does God deliver us out of our troubles? Why did He send His Son to die on the cross for you and me? Why does He “part the heavens and come down” and “draw [us] out of deep waters” (Psalm 18: 9, 16).

Because we are helpless and in desperate situations? Yes, but that’s not the only reason.

Because He loves us? Without question, but that’s not the whole answer.

Because He is the only one who can? That is true, but there’s more to the equation than that.

The most important reason God delivers us from our troubles and our sin is for His glory. He said, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). When you and I are pulled from the pit of despair, God is exalted. When His hand lifts us up from our fallen state, He is lifted up before all men. When pitiful sinners become children of God, knees bow and tongues confess His glory and majesty.

In His “high priestly prayer” in John 17, Jesus said, “Father the time has come.” Time for what? His death? Our atonement? The devil’s defeat? Yes, and no. Jesus said the time had come for glory. “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (v. 1). In just five verses, Jesus used the word “glorify” and “glory” five times. His vision went beyond the cross to something greater – glory. That is what it’s all about. David proclaimed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1) Nature, the heavens, the nations, you and me –were all created to give God glory.  And we will. Paul said that “every knee should bow . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10,11).

Every knee. Every tongue. Whether they did in this life or not, whether they acknowledge His existence today or not, whether they want to not or not – they will glorify Him. Beloved, maybe we should start practicing now.

Jesus is LORD!

---

“I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:24

Do you know (without looking at the reference) who spoke those words?  Not Peter or John.  Not the wise and righteous spiritual leaders of Israel.  Those words were spoken by a man possessed by an evil spirit, a demon of hell.  Someone who certainly had no affection for Jesus, but recognized His divine nature as God in human flesh.

The world is filled with people who refuse to acknowledge Jesus for who He is.  They deny His divine nature and His resurrection.  But Paul declared in Philippians 2:10-11 that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  The evil spirit in our key verse is the proof of Paul’s words.  The day will come – very soon I believe – when every human from Adam to the last man standing will kneel and profess Jesus as Lord – the Son of God – the Holy One.  We will have no choice in the matter.  Just as the demon declared it, the words will be pulled from our mouths as we acknowledge Him.  But for those who rejected Him that confession will be made with deep anguish, because they will realize that in rejecting Jesus Christ they have condemned themselves.

Beloved, you and I have a choice to make today that will determine how we respond in that glorious moment.  We can reject Jesus and make that confession by force, but if we bow our knees and our hearts and acknowledge Jesus as Lord today, that great confession will be spoken with joy.  Don’t wait to proclaim the Name of Jesus – He is Lord!