SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1310

“Now and Forever”

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:18

Heaven, our eternal destination, is described as ‘paradise’ where we will worship and glorify God. It is a place of indescribable continual joy in the presence of the Lord.

…To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God; …The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. – Revelation 2:7; 22:3; 21:4

However, our reference Scripture declares that God is to be glorified ‘both now and to the day of eternity.’ What are we doing to glorify Him now?

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. – Psalm 29:2

Jesus, fully God and fully man, glorified the Father by all that He said and did while on earth.

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. – John 17:4

As Christians, followers of Jesus, what are we doing to bring glory to God ‘now’ during our sojourn here on earth?

Can we glorify Him in the trials of life as Job did after he was hammered with multiple catastrophes and trials from several fronts?

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped. – Job 1:20

The Bible, the Word of God, reveals Him to the world. For many in this world, our reaction to trials such as driving in traffic, having to wait in a line, or dealing with serious losses, may be the only ‘bible’ these people will ever read. They have seen and heard our profession of faith. Do our actions and reactions align with our profession? Do they bring glory to God?

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. – 1 Peter 2:12

Can we glorify Him in the comfort and pleasures of life? It may be more difficult for us to glorify God in our prosperity than it is through the pain of trials. When in pain, we cry out for help. When prosperous our tendency is to forget the Lord, neglect our relationship with Him, and even to enter idolatry, trusting in worldly riches instead of Him. Solomon is an example for us of how easy it is to be led astray.

So, Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done… – 1 Kings 11:6

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 19:23

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. – 1 Timothy 6:17

The Proverb penned by Agur through inspiration of the Holy Spirit clarifies the danger trials and prosperity present toward our life bringing glory to God.

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord? “or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. – Proverbs 30:8-9

I had a morbidly obese doctor once scold me for being 20 pounds overweight. Needless to say, his words did not motivate me to change my diet. Do how we care for our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit, glorify God?

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. – Philippians 1:20

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship; So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31

Are we guilty of stealing glory? Pridefulness can trip us up and instead of bringing glory to God through our lives, we take it for ourselves and get puffed up by the praise of men.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! – Psalm 115:1

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. – Proverbs 27:21

May your life walk with Jesus be as His was and in everything bring glory to God, the Father.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever; For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. – Psalm 86:12; Romans 11:36