The Privileged Glimpse of Glory

Isn't it a great privilege to be called out of the darkness of this world and be translated into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ - - - to walk with the King of kings - - - to be a partner with Christ in the work of salvation - - - to be called the ambassador of the most High - - - to be made a joint heir with our Lord Jesus Christ - - - to be called into the banquet of His love? I want you to feel honored to be a shinning light in the darkness of this world. I want you to feel honored with the enlightened Spirit given to you so that you can see from the perspective of Almighty God, in order to make a difference in this ailing world. Your calling is not an accident, it is the fulfilment of His covenant in your life. Instead of having the mind that you are doing God a favor, I want you to feel appreciative in the ministry He has called you to.

In walking faithfully with Chirst, we encounter many things. At times when we come across difficulties, we feel like going back. We sometimes ask ourselves, "Is this journey worth it?" Today we will not discuss the persecution of the saints that have trodden the same blessed road to eternal kingdom. We won't discuss the Cross, though on it we found victory. We shall not discuss the maiming of the saints though in their courage our feeble faith was strengthened. We will not even mention the uncountable children of God that are still in the shakle of terror in the dungeon of the Communist world though our hearts go for them for the course of righteousness they have chosen. We will not talk about the burning of the church buildings that we are witnessing in our own part of the world. But today we shall focus our mind on the goal. We will focus on the prize at the end of the race of the rough and thorny road to glory. We will focus our attention on the victory the saints have had that the Bible has revealed to us. I Corinthians 2:9-10I Corinthians 2:9-10
9. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
10. but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew what was in store for us in glory and encouraged us in John 14:1-2 "Let not your heart be troubled . . . In my father's house there are many mansion . . . I go to prepare a place for you . . ." He also admonished us that: ". . . In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33  Jesus never said there will be no cloud.  He never said there will be no sunshine.  He only promised us a heart full of joy and singing!

Isaiah 6:1-8Isaiah 6:1-8
1. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings; With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
3. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4. At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
6. Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched you lips; you guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" The Prophet saw the glimpse of glory of the Most High. He beheld the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted. He beheld the seraphs with six wings saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory." He said the sound of their voices shook the doorposts and thresholds and the temple was filled with smoke. The great prophets cried "Woe to me!" "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips," when he beheld his sins in the mirror of God. The seraph who flew to him touched him with a live coal taken from the altar and declared: "Your guilt has been taken away and your sins atoned for." Was there any wonder when Isaiah swiftly yielded and say, "Here am I. Send me!" in response to the "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" question of the Lord.

Revelation 4:2-11Revelation 4:2-11
2. At once I was the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling and emerald, encircled the throne.
4. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
5. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. "These are the seven spirits of God.
6. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of class, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
7. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the forth was like a flying eagle.
8. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
9. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
10. the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." John's account of the glimpse of glory he saw was similar to that of Prophet Isaiah but it was the most detailed description of the privileged sight in the Bible. Like Isaiah, he saw the Lord on the throne and the four living creatures with six wings praising the Lord day and night saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." He saw the splendor and the undescribable scintillating beautiful throne of God. He saw a rainbow resembling an emerald that encircled the throne. Twenty-four elders dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads seated on their throne round the mighty throne of God. They fell down and laid their crowns before Him to worship Him and said: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. He was overwhelmed by the holiness and the glory of the throne. He wept bitterly not only for the nakedness of his sins that was revealed but also for the sins of others who were equally not worthy to break the seal and open the scroll.

Acts 7:55-60 Have you ever wonder what was revealed to Stephen in his own privileged glimpse of glory when he beheld the opened heaven and saw the son of Living God standing in the right hand of God? Stephen beheld mercy from the divine revelation he witnessed. He perceived ignorance in the life of the people that were stoning him, even at the point of death he was able to intercede for them and say "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

Matthew 17:1-8Matthew 17:1-8
1. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
3. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
5. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
6. When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
7. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid."
8. When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Peter, James and John had their own experience of the glimpse of glory when they were elevated to behold the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. His face was shining like sun and his clothes as white as the light. Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor talking with Jesus Christ. Imagine what Peter saw that made him to suggest "Lord, it is good for us to be here. I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." Instantly while he was speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" The disciples were terrified. They percieved the presence of Whom they were. They fell facedown to the ground until Jesus Christ touched them, "Get up. Don't be afraid," he said. But He instructed them not to reveal what they have seen until He has been raised from the dead.

Reflect on this:

There is no known rosy avenue to success. The victorious Saints focused on the prize although they climbed up to glory through the path of pain. They were privileged in the Lord. They have seen the glimpse of glory. Like Paul, Philippians 3:13-14Philippians 3:13-14
13. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and strining toward what is ahead.
14. I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. they pressed towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In the end Paul had a last laugh in his stewardship testimony. II Timothy 4:7-8II Timothy 4:7-8
7. I have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.