Increasing Glory

At the end of the book of Deuteronomy we read these wonderful words regarding the life of Moses. In 34:10-12 we read, "And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharoah and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel."

We see in Moses a glory that at the time of writing Deuteronomy was not surpassed, but... at the close of this book one gets the sense that more glory is coming. The story isn't over; more chapters follow. The question is "would Moses' glory be surpassed"?

Anyone this side of calvary knows the answer to that question. Even in our reading today in Matthew 8 we saw a greater glory - even a glory that begins to eclipse Moses'. In that chapter we saw Jesus doing works that rival Moses'. In this chapter alone He heals a leper, heals a paralyzed servant by just speaking a word, heals a mother-in-law sick with a fever and many oppressed with demons, most notably the men of the Gadarenes. Jesus even calmed a storm merely by rebuking it. Those who experienced these miracles saw a brilliant glory. But there was more to come. Glory would be increasing!

Jesus continued His earthly ministry further displaying His glory, but the way He displayed it at the cross takes our breath away. It is so unexpected, but when taken in to one's understanding with the Spirit's aid, we see a magnificience of glory that makes Moses' glory seem barely discernible.

That same glory, the glory of Christ, is now available to shine through God's people. As we display the self-giving love of our Lord we saw on the cross to a world in need, glory shines forth. And when a world in darkness sees this light, many will be drawn to it. Isaiah 60 seems to speak of this. In verse 3 Isaiah says, "And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

All of this will be culminated in the day when the Lord fully dwells among His people. Again Isaiah alludes to it in verse 19-20. He says, "The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light, but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended."

Sometimes we focus too much on the darkness around us and it causes us to be discouraged. At those times we must step back and look at the story that is unfolding from God's perspective. Glory is increasing and will increase until it shines so much we will not need the sun nor the moon. Until that day comes we have the privilege of contributing to the light that is seen in our day. Ask the Lord right now to use you to shine His glory into the dark places of our world.