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Honor and Glory Forever and Ever

By Chris Carter

Have you ever seen an old war movie where the enemy tosses a grenade into a trench line or foxhole, and someone sacrifices his life for the others by shielding the blast with his body? Remember how the soldiers who were saved spoke with near reverence of the one who died for them? Why doesn’t man esteem our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, in the same reverent manner?

Consider that in this evil world the One who has reconciled us to God by His sacrifice and our obedience is often not given the same reverence and respect, even among many who claim sonship with Him as heirs of salvation. One can attend “church” and live a seemingly spiritual life, yet fall far short of Gods glory by failing to continually remember the free gift which came by the grace and love of God the Father.

Consider these facts. When Adam separated man from God by his sin, God was mindful of sinful man and desired that he be reconciled to Him. He provided an avenue of approach through His Son. Our Savior came and lived in the flesh, was diligent to perform the will of the Father, and spoke those things God wanted Him to say. He was a living example of how we should live. He suffered grievous indignities at the hands of men, was tempted by Satan and often alone, and died a death so cruelly painful we can only imagine what it might have been like. And He suffered these things willingly so that we could be reconciled to God through His death, burial and resurrection, and our obedience to it. But even after all of this, most are not mindful of Him.

I think that everyone at some point has done something for someone else that went unappreciated, or suffered some injustice that was wholly undeserved. And we surely remember how it made us feel because it happened directly to us. Imagine then throwing yourself on a grenade and the only thing being said afterward was “He got dirt and blood all over me!” Imagine viewing Gods gift, and Christ’s willingness to bear the guilt for our sins the same way. “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:3. The result of such thinking can be summarized thusly: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31.

Consider the unfortunate example of Israel, who was brought forth out of Egyptian bondage to be a holy people of God. He blessed them greatly and made them to prosper, for they were His people. But as time passed evil influences from the nations round about changed them so much they actually became worse than those nations, playing the harlot with their gods and turning against the God of their salvation. He did not stay His hand in meting out a swift and terrible punishment on her. Friends, they not only forgot God’s blessings, they came to disdain them! We too can come to forget God’s gift to us, and even to show a lack of respect for it, if we pay more attention to the things of this life and little or none to Him. And the longer we carry on this way the harder it will be to turn back. The darkness becomes darker, the blindness more permanent, the judgment sure. “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.”
Hebrews 12:25.

Friends and brethren, it never has to be this way. God will give you hearing and seeing if you desire them, because He wants His holy people with Him. When you go home tonight, don’t just eat dinner and turn on the television afterward, or jump on the computer. Set the kids down or invite a neighbor over, open the bible and read about the life and death of Jesus the Christ. Do this every day, and if you have forgotten what He did for us, you will come to remember. If you have never known, you will learn, if you desire to learn.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God alone who is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17.

(Editor's Note: Chris is one of our members at the North Charlottesville church. We hope that this will be the first of many articles from his pen!)