Glory Everlasting

The apostle tells us in Rom. 8: 18-19, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. These verses pick up the message of v.17 which says, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

It says “For I consider” (NKJV); in the AV it says “I reckon.” It simply means to assess, to calculate, and to count the pros and cons. So on the basis of Paul’s experiences about suffering, he declares that the balance falls in favour of glory. He comes to the conclusion that our sufferings are merely temporary, but glory is everlasting. He confirms this again in 2 Cor. 4:17-18 “ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (all ref.NKJV). One theologian said, “the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared to the past sins remitted, the present grace of consolation, the future glory which was promised.”

Was there a former glory of man? God says in Genesis, “Let us make man in our own image and likeness.” That’s incredible! It was a Triune decision. This means that at the beginning, before the fall, man had a kind of glory. He was also made the lord of creation. Everything was created for mans’ sake and welfare. He was given a mandate, power, position, and glory over all creation. In fact, all these ‘glories’ given to man - all belong to God. God shared it anyway, for it is God’s pleasure to share that glory and joy which the Triune God has from eternity’s past. This makes us very special indeed. We are the crowning glory of His creation. We are His masterpiece - the beauty and the best of all creation. You see, God did it because of His eternal love and grace. All by grace and by grace alone. (To be continued).