The Hope of Glory

One of the things that people earnestly desire is a personal sense of significance. People need to feel like they matter, and that they're contributing something that is being valued by the world around them. A lot of times we call this self-worth, self-esteem, sometimes even the ego; but either way, there's an intrinsic sense that people have to be legitimately valued and appreciated by others. Today I'd like to describe this feeling as "glory."

If you're a Christian, you've probably been conditioned to reserve the term glory for God Almighty alone. This is incorrect. When Joseph was in Egypt and his brothers discovered who he was, he told them, "tell my father of all my glory in Egypt" (Genesis 45). This shows that there is a glory that God does confer upon man. From a secular standpoint, Michael Jackson's glory was his recognition as the greatest entertainer in the world, selling the most albums in music history. Michael Jordan's glory is his recognition as the greatest basketball player to ever play the game and him winning 6 NBA championships. Tiger Woods' glory is being recognized as the greatest golfer of his generation, winning 14 major championships. There is a glory unto man, and deep down, every human being wants to experience it in some shape, form or fashion.

If you're feeling somewhat like an "underachiever," if you feel like your life isn't fulfilling the potential for which you know you possess, be not dismayed. All you need to do is put your faith in the "Hope of Glory." The Hope of Glory is in fact Jesus Christ, but I want to look at it from a more practical, not necessarily "spiritual" standpoint.

Human glory has a tendency to fade. Michael Jackson is no longer the King of Pop. Michael Jordan is no longer the best basketball player in the world. Tiger Woods hasn't won a major championship in golf in nearly 7 years. Human glory fades. But there is a Glory that God has ordained for every individual, that was established before the foundation of the world, that if a person reaches and accesses that glory, it will be eternal. The gifts, the talents, the calling that God has bestowed upon you, may bring glory to you, but in order for it to last it has to be rooted in Him. God wants you to be celebrated, God wants you to have acclaim from others, God wants you to be appreciated and affirmed, it's part of the Blessing of God (Genesis 12). But if you reach for that glory apart from Him, it will be fleeting and temporary at best.

Don't put your hope in secular success. Don't build the God-given gifts and talents that you've received around your own personal aggrandizement or self-fulfillment. Seek for the Glory that God already has prepared for you, that has been waiting specifically for you before you were even in your mother's womb. If you reach for the Eternal Glory in Christ, you'll have the true experience, forever, of the Hope of Glory.