Sin has become the greatest cause for man to be separated from God. He did not merely separate from Him, but was cut off from everything that is His. Consequently, he lost the most valuable things and became a body that seeks the things that give him hardship and pain. When the first man sinned, he not only lost purity and innocence, but also perfect freedom, personality and the nature that could not have any want. In all he lost glory, a glory which he had when God created him to reflect Himself in him. Man fell and sin entered all men apart from their wish. Each one born with a spirit inevitably separated from God, i.e. from His glory. And even when a believer commits sin against God he or she is bound to lose His glory. The notion that Paul in the Spirit projects regarding this issue is indeed philosophical. He said, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
The first thought that comes to mind is that none are righteous and no matter how and where a person is born he or she unavoidably becomes sinner. And this is certainly true, since our transformation bears witness to the words of the Spirit. The appearance of God’s glory in us is what makes us believe and see that we were once utterly sinners. What has not been in our life has now entered it giving us security and guarantee to live under true freedom; that purity and innocence has again appeared in us. Until this took place we have all lost immeasurable glory of God, which the first man and woman never escaped except when disobedience was found in them. So, this now leads us to the understanding of leaning toward disobedience. Though we are saved, if we embrace disobedience, the glory of God, i.e. His reflection in us fades away. The often believers disobey Him the more pale they become in life both spiritually and physically. The moment we are saved by Christ’s blood we are made white as snow just as Adam and Eve were at the time of their creation. And if disobedience sprouts in us God’s reflection of Himself which He bestowed on us departs us. In fact, we have chosen sin as our forefront and God is not one to enjoy or accept living behind a curtain of darkness. For this reason, Paul insists we ought not to grieve the Holy Spirit. It suppresses the joy of the Spirit and we end up pale in every way.
Therefore, when we disobey God and His will after having been saved, we are bound to lose His glory. Owing to this we face consequences implying sidestepping wisdom and truth. It is now that life becomes dreary. You see God’s glory is a constant source of energy to live life to the fullest. If He is able to see Himself in us, we have a nature that is without any want; for God Himself becomes all to us. Listen to the words of the Spirit to which we must all pay attention to, because the times are increasingly and rapidly changing to lure us all into disobedience. “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1 Cor. 15:34). Our sober-mind is not as apart from drunkenness, but apart from disobedience. We ought to be careful of our surroundings, friendships, acquaintances and fellowships. A continual intimacy with God will bequeath us with a weighty knowledge of Him. This makes us sober-minded. You see, to sin at a moment of weakness is quite different from sinning continually. Both are damaging, but the latter is much more serious in that it leads one to forget the knowledge of living in God’s glory. To someone who has forgotten it the loss will be heavy. For having no knowledge of God puts them at places and to deeds that displeases God.
Being with God’s glory or His reflection is the way to receive His exceptional blessings. They are different from His normal blessings. Even Pharaoh was blessed by God, but not exceptionally. On the other hand, Moses was exceptionally blessed. Pharaoh was given all the riches of the earth but only so that God could use him according to His choice. His blessings did not come to his aid at the hour of need. Paul, Peter and the rest were exceptionally blessed, but someone like Herod, Festus or Felix was only blessed normally. Exceptional blessings are above normal ones. The latter don’t seem too significant in view of the former. God may bless us with normal blessings by virtue of being His creation, but His desire for us is to be with His exceptional ones. For only the exceptional blessings power us to fulfill His purpose to us. So, as mentioned earlier, the avenue for them is to keep the following. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
When you are saved by grace through faith, you need not worry for your salvation. You have been sealed by God’s Spirit in order that your salvation cannot be undone. But if you sin, you repress the joy of the Spirit in you causing Him grief and thereby, turn pale. The appearance of this sadness is the reason for losing God’s glory that has a direct effect on His exceptional blessings to you. At this point God cannot use you for His glory. He may on the other hand use your paleness to sustain His glory in others. For when you become pale people get to observe it. Hence, it is prudent to have a right attitude toward God. As it is said, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7).
A right attitude then incurs a positive scenario. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). Since by your knowledge of God you save time, you are deliberately comforted, strengthened, revived, recognized and made presentable by God for His glory. By aiming to be blessed it becomes difficult for you to fall short of His glory. O the glory that surpasses the mountains and the valleys! What wonderful creation will you be!
The subsequent result of containing God’s glory is praise. Praise comes to you from all quarters. It is inevitable. The Spirit led Paul to say the following regarding those who were obeying God. “Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11:2). Because the knowledge of God is the essence of truth for victory, many victories resulting from many battles will bring you praise. As God’s glory in you abounds, it is only easy to praise you.
Finally, while others may suppose you for wrong or are confused concerning your glory by their selfish ambitions, God speaks for you. He gives you a platform with evidence for exhibiting your glory. Peter stood up and said, “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:15). The obvious choice then would be to start believing you and thereby, letting your usefulness to God be accepted.