Daily Devotions
Anticipating Glory
Reading for November 25th: Romans 8-10
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
Years ago Bill Hall used a visual aide that has stuck with me. On the board he drew a dot and a line and said the dot represented this life and the line represented the next. He told us to imagine that line going on and on as far as our minds could imagine. He said that's how much longer eternity is than this life.
That's a powerful illustration but even that only highlights one difference between this life and the next. In the resurrection we will not only exist in a world that is quantitatively more significant (temporal verses eternal), we will live in a world that qualitatively more substantial (broken verses glorious).
What does the Bible say about the "glory to be revealed" in the resurrection? There is much that could be said, but a few scriptures will give us an idea:
- We'll be given a crown. "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10 (see also 1 Corinthians 9:25; James 1:12)
- We'll share the glory of Christ. "To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (see also 1:7-12; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 3:4)
- We'll be transformed into God's image. "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2
These scriptures stretch my mind as much as Bill Hall's dot and line did. We can't imagine how glorious it will be, but it's good to use our imagination and dream. Spend a few moments in a quiet place to just think about heaven.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
