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The Watchman Chronicle Volume 10#2 DECEPTIVE GLORY - An article with prophetic insight by Marc Brisebois email: watchman@istar.ca

There is a glory in the world which tempts and calls to men. It is a fleeting glimmer of power and fame, promising it's hosts a sense of value and importance. In reality it is the most profound and devious deception in existence; it is nothing it appears to be. When the veil between this present age and timeless reality is rent, the nations will gasp with horror. Only then will they see the folly of their ambition and vanity. For before their eyes will be clearly revealed the brilliant riches of Christ and the corruption of this world's passing limelight. At that time men will writhe with shame as they behold the lie for which they sold their souls.

Glory

To such a world Jesus came with a mandate to birth a Kingdom, one of light and truth. Until then only darkness filled the earth because men did what was right in their own eyes. Terror, war and bloodshed fill human history because men have sought their own good. Driven by an independent self-serving lust for glory and praise, they sought control of others. Why? Simply because men have a deep seeded need to be the center. This hidden motive is the point at which the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness divide. Jesus came to obtain a kingdom by denying himself glory, praise, and the right to control. In so doing, He released the government of God; a Kingdom with God in the center.

If you ever wondered what empowers the kingdom of darkness look no further than the heart of the individual man. The nature of sinful man is self-serving causing him to continually seek 'glory'. Likewise, before I served the Lord, it was my wholesale ambition to command attention. My lifestyle was a continual striving for the affections of those around me. My clothing and behavior was geared to provoke attraction. Success in sport became a chief means for capturing the gaze of approving eyes. My 'glory' came in the form of anything which could give me the 'limelight'.

Like many young boys I remember having 'hero' fantasies. Whatever language we want to use it amounts to the same thing. It is usually a situation where we are the victor and the object of people's admiration and affection. I dreamed of championship hockey games where I would score the over-time goal, leading my team to victory before a cheering and adoring crowd. Basking in the glow of thunderous applause I would lift my hands in an act of celebration enjoying the moment of conquest,... the moment of glory. The intensity of my imagination made it so real. I could see and feel it, and 'O how I longed for it'. But what is this desire for glory and where does it come from?

The Greek word for glory is doxa. Most of us think of it in terms of 'the glory of God'. That is, the glow of his glorious presence, or the white hot flash of the essence of His power. While it can represent these things when applied to God, it has a fairly generic definition. It means: appearance, reputation, glory. Zodhiates Greek Key Study says, it 'may denote appearance, form, aspect, that appearance of a person or thing which catches the eye or attracts attention, commanding recognition, looking like something; thus equivalent to splendor, brilliance, glory attracting the gaze...'.

This means is anything and everything can have 'glory'. Buildings, objects and people can all possess something which causes recognition to come to them. For example a woman's long hair, the scripture says, is her glory(1 Cor. 11:15) Whatever has splendor and brilliance can be 'glory'; that which draws attention and focus is our glory. Men and women can have physical or personality attributes which catch the eye and command recognition. These in themselves are not a problem. But they can become a snare when used to satisfy a desire for more glory. We can be motivated to amplify the amount of glory we receive by flaunting what we have. This is the nature of sin which propels and empowers the kingdom of darkness. When men seek glory they are making themselves the center. For this reason Paul advocated modesty in dress.

What we are really talking about is a form of worship. When Satan fell it was because he envied the worship focused on God. Likewise, this same desire continues to fuel human achievement to this day. Of course we don't always see it that way, but the desire to be looked upon with adoration speaks of worship. Men may not want the outward forms of homage associated with worship, but they would like to be revered. The famous epic movie 'Ben Hur' offers an interesting commentary on this dynamic. It comes just after the great chariot race where Charleton Heston is honored by Pontius Pilate. Before crowning him he says, "You are the peoples one true god,... for the time being. Permit us to worship,... I crown you their god!" Their 'foolish superstition' may not have been very far from the truth.

Today men create spheres of attention through sports, entertainment, and politics. In the age of sophisticated enlightenment our heroes may not call themselves 'gods', but what does that matter when we live by the same ambition to be in the center. We mock the evil ambition of Hitler and Stalin, whereas the only difference is the size of our circle. We simply graduate from one level to another never being fully content with our status. One day we will see there is really only one circle, and there can be only one center. Satan has blinded man by fragmenting and diversifying the ambition for glory, but it all has one source. That source is the evil spiritual government we call the kingdom of darkness. Herein can we contrast the Kingdom of God from the Kingdom of Satan. Mainly, that the Kingdom of Satan is strengthened and increased by the activity of 'seeking glory'. That is how it began, and that is how it continues.

The Fall

Before creation,... before the fall of man,... before Lucifer's sin,... God alone was the center. All things flowed from Him and to Him. He was the ultimate object of worship, whose glory continually captivated the attention of heaven. He was the only center. Nothing existed in His domain which did not automatically recognize His divine right to own the highest place. Incredibly, in this very place the seeds of rebellion were born as one 'covering cherub' named Lucifer, began to marvel at his own beauty. Through Ezekiel the Holy Spirit testifies of his sin.

"You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.

You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;..."(Ezekiel 28:12-17)

Lucifer's error began when he focused on his own glory. Even though it was something which God had flawlessly created it became a snare to him. His heart became enthralled with himself to the point where he plotted the overthrow of God Himself.

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'"(Isaiah 14:12-14) The rebellion of Lucifer was based on a desire to exalt and seek his own glory. It began when Lucifer ceased to marvel at God and instead felt awe concerning himself. The result is plain to see. The Kingdom of heaven was divided and one third of the angels were cast down. Since that moment the powers of hell have continued to perpetuate the same vile program through men. The program consists of inducing man to dwell on himself. Wherever he succeeds there is division, hatred, violence and corruption. Whether the circumstances include a church, a company, a family or a nation, the dynamics are identical. Somewhere someone has become concerned about their own glory.

One wonders how such a thing could happen in heaven. How could an angelic being exposed to the wonders of God's unmatched glory surrender to such perverse wisdom? It is simple when you understand God to be the ultimate center and the source of all life. His very essence sustains what is good and decent. Whatever becomes disconnected from Him becomes corrupted. Common sense disappears when God ceases to be the hub of the wheel. When wisdom is not anchored in God, it wanders aimlessly into all that God is not. The outcome can only be rebellion, pride and deception. Therefore, yielding the center to Him in the fear of God, establishes the Kingdom on earth.

Glory to God

The Kingdom of God exists where men are rightly situated before God. To live as though God were the continual object of our existence is to establish His government. Thus, worship becomes a primary feature of the Christian life. It enthrones God in the center! However, our worship consists of far more than what we do in a corporate service. It concerns the orientation of our heart in the matter of glory. In this way Jesus succeeded where all others had failed. Making His arrival not only the birth of the Son of God, but the birth of His Kingdom on earth.

In Luke chapter 2 the angels appear to the shepherds in the field to herald the arrival of Christ declaring, "Glory to God in the Highest".

The proclamation is a statement of inauguration: The Kingdom of God has come! The significance of this phrase has largely escaped our notice. It was far more than a sentimental thought. It represents the advance of the Kingdom of God, saying, 'to God be the glory, and no one else'. More than a hymn of hope, it is a clear determination of the reality about to unfold before the creation. God, through Jesus, was reconciling all things to Himself.

Jesus understood the parameters of His calling. He knew establishing His Father's Kingdom would mean dying to all need of glory. His precedent showed us that it was not enough to be devout. Religious activity was not the designated sign posts of the Kingdom. Rather, it was the daily yielding of His own will for the sake of the Father's glory. As He prayed in the garden, His motto was always "Not My will but Yours be done".

Our Lord's commitment to forsake all glory went beyond His lifestyle to the choice of Joseph and Mary as parents. Their low estate was another way of turning His back on this world's glory. Instead of being born to a prestigious and powerful family in Jerusalem, He chose a manger in the countryside of Bethlehem! And what about the physical condition of Jesus. Isaiah says, "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him"(Isa. 53:2) He could have been a strikingly beautiful man. But the pattern of both his birth and life led toward the low road of obscurity.

His commitment bound Him to saying nothing but what He heard the Father say. He said, "He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory (Jn 7:18)." He could not for a second trust His own thinking. He understood the deceptive power of ambition and would not yield one moment to it. This was the focus of the temptation in the wilderness. Would He give in to the human desire to achieve glory? Would He worship Satan for all the glory in the world? Would He jump from the pinnacle of the temple to inspire awe and prove Himself? Would He perform a miracle outside of the leading of the Father? More than denying Himself in the wilderness, He told people not to publicize His miracles. He had no desire for the glory men could give Him. In the spirit of lowliness and humility He said "I seek not my own glory:..." (Jn 8:50).

The Disciples

The pattern of Christ's walk was vital as it establishes a precedent. All who suppose to release the Kingdom of God must follow His example. In fact, to not do so makes one Christ's enemy.

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."(Philippians 3:18-19)

The pathway of the Kingdom is the cross of Jesus Christ. If we are unsure what that means we can safely assume it means death. Death to our desires for praise,... death to our need of reputation,... death to the egotistical need of control and acclaim. All these things the world offers. Indeed, it is very much available in the social order of the church at large. But the true calling of the believer is to deny all desire for glory coming from man. For when the glory of Christ will appear, all other glory will bring us shame. This does not mean we should never be praised or honored. It means our heart should never seek it or need it. On the other hand there is a glory which we have in Jesus (Jn17). It is not visible or discernible by human senses. You might say it is veiled to the eyes of the world. This glory comes and increases as we apply ourselves to releasing the government of God. The more a man chooses to 'lay down his life' the more of Christ's glory he shares. The difference between the two 'glories' is tremendous but especially notable in two ways. First, one glory is darkness while the other is light. This is wonderful but sometimes hard to appreciate while we live in the world. The other is not so. For while men are selling their souls by the brief applause of an envious crowd, the Glory of God will last forever. Unlike, being the captain of the college football team, Christ has offered us an enduring and permanent glory. The Apostle's understood the worthless and temporal nature of this world's glory writing the following.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."(Romans 8:18)

"All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever."(1 Peter 1:24-25)

The life of man is like a puff of smoke. Here today and gone tomorrow. Against the landscape of eternity it is less than a drop of water compared to all the oceans of the world. When the glory of the coming Kingdom of Christ is revealed mankind will lament their wasted existence. The believer will have his tears wiped away by the comfort of God. Those tears however will not be tears of hurt or rejection, but tears of sorrow and mourning. In that moment we will know Jesus was worthy of far more than what we gave. Lord give us today a glimpse of your great glory and remove from our hearts any longing for the cheap imitations this world offers us! Give us eyes to see clearly the wondrous inheritance prepared for us that we live before you in true humility and obedience.