November 18, 2004

THE GLORIOUS LORD

"But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams" (Isaiah 33:21).

The descriptive word, glorious, appears more than forty times in the Bible. It is used to describe the nature, character, and ways of God as exhibited through Jesus Christ. Repeatedly God is praised as the glorious God. The body of Christ is described as "his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21), the gospel is portrayed as the "glorious gospel of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4), Christ's power is identified as "his glorious power" (Colossians 1:11), and His second coming is called "the glorious appearing" (Titus 2:13). Everything about our wonderful Redeemer is superlatively glorious. His name, character, and acts are glorious. Whether in creation or in redemption, all His mighty acts are glorious.

The apostle John, in his unique style, presents Christ as glorious in character, in all His mighty acts, in conquest, and in coronation (see Revelation 19:1-16). Christ's triumph at the cross was glorious, His inauguration at God's right hand as our able Intercessor is glorious, and now, we await with eagerness the greatest event of all--the "glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

Our glorious Lord is now engaged in the work of preparing a glorious home in His kingdom for those who love Him and look for Him (see John 14:1-3). God's promise to ancient Israel concerning the glorious Lord will ultimately meet its fulfillment in spiritual Israel as they behold the One altogether lovely, the chiefest among ten thousand. In that glad day of redemption God's people will exclaim, "The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams... The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us" (Isaiah 33:21, 22).

My Prayer Today: Lord, I ascribe thanksgiving to You, my glorious Lord, and I praise You for Your great salvation. Amen.