Friday, July 16, 2010

Aaron Shust: "To God Alone"

Filled With Glory

Welcome to the CONNECT blog,

This week at CONNECT we are continuing in our series "The Destiny of the Believer". The third message in this series is entitled "Filled With Glory" and will cover Revelation 21:9-27. This passage is the Apostle John's attempt to show us what Heaven will look like as revealed to him by an angel. What sticks out to me most about this passage is the use of the word "glory". Literally this word means "to think". In the New Testament it is used in regard to ascribing honor and praise as well as describing an event, place or person as dazzling.

This being the case, Heaven is described in dazzling beauty. We are also told in this passage that "kings of the earth will bring their glory into it" and that "they will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations." This brings all sorts of questions regarding Heaven, but to boil it down this is where the "to think" definition of glory comes into play. What John is describing here is that finally those who received glory in life will ascribe it to God. The word translated "nations" is the same word translated "Gentiles" in other texts of the New Testament. In other words heaven is a place of indescribable beauty where everyone is thinking right about God.

Peter ends his second epistle with the words, "To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." This presents the challenge for us to not wait until we get to heaven to think correctly about God. It is my opinion that thinking correctly about God is the key to living right. Learn to ask yourself the question during times of decision, "what truth about God effects my choice?" The main issue then becomes to live in the glory of God means to live your life in accordance with right thoughts about God while enjoying His beauty.

Now that you have read this, view the video "Aaron Shust: "To God Alone" then add your two cents to the conversation.

Learning to think correctly,

Pastor Paul