In seeing such glorious truths as we have regarding our eternal salvation, and the reward that we are currently racing toward, how wonderful it is that we now have the opportunity to make such a divine investment into eternity! What we sow in this life will surely be enjoyed in the hereafter. It may seem like a struggle now, but we can be assured that the return is great, even 100 fold! Jesus is our great example. No one else could better show us how to live this principle:
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore [therefore] God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:5-11).
What a humble and wonderful example He has made for us! The very Son of God, clothed in weak human flesh, yet possessing eternality and perfect godliness, has humbled Himself to display how to successfully walk this path of most resistance!
Jesus was only glorified as He was because He was so obedient.. His perfect glorification and His perfect obedience are directly related. He humbled Himself completely, even to suffer the death of the cross, the emblem of sinful shame, and THEREFORE was highly exalted and given the name above every name! Oh how we marvel at the infinite condescension of God's Son!
And so it will be with you and I. The level to which we will shine in the hereafter is directly related to our level of surrender in this life. We have previously discovered the many differing levels of glorification there will be at the resurrection (1 Cor 15:41-42), but how do we attain to such "brightness"? Reader, it is by dying to self! The blindly coveted and esteemed positions among earthly men will be counted as mere dung when compared to being crowned as the very bride of Christ! There are last that shall be first, and first that shall be last (Lk 13:30).
Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
"For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight" (Ps 18:21-24).
The most neglected truth in the body of Christ is ironically one of the most important! That is, that this earth is but a dressing room - outfitting us for eternity. Notice the outward raiment of the bride in Psalm 45: "The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold" (vs. 13). Her outward brilliancy ("wrought gold") was only because of the GLORY found within! She took the time to cultivate and nurture her investment in God's kingdom, His ways, His Word and His glory. The fruit and return of such an investment is absolutely priceless: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (Jn 12:24).
"The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility" (Prov 15:33).
How interesting that this word for "honor" is actually the Hebrew word "kabod", which is repeatedly used as "glory". Before GLORY is HUMILITY and before BRIGHTNESS is DEATH!
Friend, let's respond to such a glorious, and God-ordained pattern that has been set before us! Let's not be a wicked and unresponsive generation: "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented" (Matt 11:16-17).
The wedding song is beginning to play, and He's asking you to dance!
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