God’s glory is all around us and will be for as long as we are. We have the opportunity to experience it each day and as we have experienced, we also have the duty to bring His glory to the rest of the world we inhabit. But, we also have the opportunity to reject His glory and take up the things of the world.
“21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” – Romans 1:21-23 (ESV)
We are free to choose the path we take. Yes, God knows the path we will take and whereas He could take us to the path of righteousness, He allows us to choose and then guides us to the next phase of His plan based on our choice. That said, as you see in the above verses, there are those that will continue to choose the path of unrighteous behavior. For those, God also has a plan.
“24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” – Romans 1:24-25 (ESV)
God gives them up to their desires and worldly passions. As they choose to turn from God, He allowed them to and turns away from them. Notice the words and tense that I am using. God is currently active in society today. His actions described in the verses above are not just a story that is in the past and not relevant today. He is active in taking the same actions with those that give up His glory today. Those that turn away from God are allowed to by Him and then they are subject to the consequences of their actions. Those consequences may not manifest until the return of Christ, but they will come to pass.
God’s glory is given to us freely and it is our duty to accept and spread His glory to the world. When we do, we are blessed beyond belief. When we choose to give up His glory, we are subject to the consequences of those actions as well. I choose to bring His glory forward and spread it to those around me. I accept the duty I am called to and will not give up the glory God has for us all.
Are you accepting God’s glory or rejecting it in pursuit of worldly things? Are you aware that as you turn away from the glory of God, He will turn away from you? What if you were to bring His glory forward to all that you interact with?
Trevor's Thoughts 