Glory of God

“The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God  illuminated it. The Lamb of God is its light.” Revelation 21:23

Has anyone tried to see straight into the sun with your bare eyes? You can probably do that for like 0.1 second and then close your eyes or turn your eyes away because it is so bright. In fact the sun is so bright to see that when you stare at it for moment and close your eyes, you can still see the image of the sun.

When sin entered the world, we were not able to see the glory of God anymore. Why? Because our sinfulness cannot stand the bright glory of God. And yet God chose to be with us. That’s why God told Moses to build a sanctuary so that He can dwell with men during their journey in the wilderness.

Here was the problem though. Were the men going to blindfold their eyes when they would have to pack of to move from location to location? I mean, the Sanctuary didn’t pack up on its own. The priests must have done it. But then, they would have to see the ark of God. Then they would have to die, right? Well, that didn’t happen. “Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony…” Numbers 9:15. Isn’t that awesome? The cloud by day and fire by night had guided the Israelites in their journey. And when it’s time to move this cloud would come down to cover God’s glory!

On the other hand, here’s what happened to those who intentionally peeped into see God’s glory. “Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck fifty thousand and seventy ment…” 1 Samuel 6:19. These men in Beth Shemesh had sinful curiosity. They tried to see God’s glory and God struck them. Does it sound harsh? No, it’s simply our nature of sin that prohibits us from seeing God’s glory. Withstanding God’s glory is not in our current nature. That’s why Moses’ face was shining even as he was hiding when God’s glory was passing by. That’s whey Saul (Paul)’s eyes were blinded at His first encounter with Jesus.

But I do want to see the glory of God someday. Oh, how awesome it must have been for Adam and Eve to be with God before sin. Now God promises us that is possible. Revelation describes of Heaven that we saints will be in. It says that the Lamb is the light. Then it says, “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light…” Revelation 21:24. So come soon, Jesus!