The Light of the Glory of God

This article is adapted from my sermon from Luke 2:8-20 from a series on the light of Christmas.

I think most of us can relate to having a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” For me, traveling to Russia on a mission trip was that kind of an opportunity for me. When those moments come along, I wonder how I wound up there, and why it was me.

I think that’s how the shepherds felt the night Jesus was born and the angels showed up by myriads to announce Jesus’ birth to them. Why them? Why there, in the fields? But that was God’s choice. And I really don’t think we fully understand the amazing nature of what happened that night. We’ve heard the story told so many times with the emphasis on the manger scene itself that we don’t realize that the very windows of heaven itself were thrown open with a massive display of the awe-inspiring glory of God.

These ordinary, every day, down-to-earth shepherds were allowed the privilege of beholding the holiest thing anyone has ever seen – the glory of God. When that happens, our lives are changed and our appetites are whet forever!

When God Reveals His Glory

Think of the moments we find in Scripture where God threw this veil open…

• For Moses, at the burning bush.
• For Joshua when he met the “Captain of the Host.”
• For David when the ark arrived in Jerusalem.
• For Solomon when the Temple was dedicated.
• For Mary, Joseph, Zecharias and others surrounding the Christmas story.
• For Paul on the road to Damascus.
• For John on the isle of Patmos.

In each case, lives were changed and perspectives were altered for all of eternity. Here are some aspects of all of these stories that stand out as highly meaningful for us today…

1. God shows up and reveals His glory in His own time and prerogative. He is sovereign and owes no explanation or apology to anyone at any time. To behold His glory is to be the object of His divine choice. Why the shepherds? It was God’s choice.
2. Beholding the glory of God is life-altering. In each of the stories cited, the moment was a climax in the lives of those privileged to behold God’s glory. Everything changed and that moment was pivotal for them.
3. God reveals His glory to whet our appetites for eterntiy. Romans 8:29 and 1 Corinthians 15 let us know that some day, believers will be glorified and will share eternity in the glory of the presence of Jesus Christ. Our life-changing, pivotal moments when we experience a bit of the glory of God are designed to cause us to hunger for more of Him.

The moment I was saved a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I believe I experienced just a tiny touch of the glory of God in that moment. I was forever changed and my hunger for more of God’s glory is preparing me for eternity and motivating me toward holiness and Christlikeness.

You can have that same experience today if you’ll only repent of your sin and turn to Jesus once and for all. This might be the pivotal moment of your entire life on which eternity itself hangs in the balance. Turn from sin and trust in Jesus today!