The strains of the Bethlehem angels' songs about Glory are fading as we enter this new year. It was fine to join their songs for a time, but now back to work, back to business, back to the details of making those new year's resolutions happen. Its time to seek our own glory.
Did you ever realize the Bible teaches that we will have various degrees of glory in heaven? Look at a couple verses:
In discussing the resurrection from the dead Paul writes, "There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:40-44).
"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:1-3).
There are a number of others, such as Matthew 19:28 and Matthew 25:21. The point is we who put our faith in the risen Lord Jesus shall share in His glory, but we will differ from one another in glory. Some will have reflected splendor like the moon. Some will be shining stars. Its all in His hands.
The real glory of it all is that you and I will be quite happy to be who and what we are and will be free from envy and jealousy. Oh what slaves those feelings are. How often do we not struggle with the resentment, longing for someone's possessions, qualities or good luck, as we say. Have you not caught yourself thinking, "Look here, I deserve a promotion more than she does?" Or "How come he gets to drive a new truck and I have to put up with this clunker for another year?" The list is endless.
It appears that even in heaven some will be smarter, wiser, more talented, stronger, in charge of more stuff, etc. than me—and than you. The real difference between then and this new year here on earth, is that we won't care at all. We will no longer be trapped, driven, bound and ground down by envy and jealousy. We will be content, happy and filled with joy in knowing we are His. We will be fulfilled, filled full. I may be a thimble and you may be a great, shining, silver goblet. Ah what a joy it will be for us thimbles to be filled with His love. And what happiness it will be to know that you and all the other goblets are also filled.
I pray that you will be filled with peace, joy and hope even here and now, in this new year.
