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Glorifying God

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 21.

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Glorifying God.

By D. A. Robinson

It does not require a very strong faith to believe that man could, in his innocence and purity when standing in Eden, glorify and honor his Creator.
How that heart must have been filled with love and gratitude to the one who had given him an existence, and a mind fully capable of appreciating and enjoying the blessings with which he was surrounded! But since that time a change has taken place. Man has fallen.
For six thousand years he has been degenerating physically, mentally, and morally, until his distance from his Creator, and from what the Lord designed that he should be, seems to be enough to turn the favor of God entirely from mankind. But because of his longsuffering this has not been the case.
Man may, yet, by a life of obedience, glorify God. And he is not left in darkness as to the manner in which he can do this; for the sacred word contains full instructions on this point.
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.” The words of our Saviour are also to the point: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8.
This brings us to two very important subjects: the words and actions of our lives.
If the fact could be constantly kept before us, that our words and actions, when they are not in harmony with the principles of righteousness, contradict the profession we make, it might cause us to be more guarded. When our lives are in harmony with the truth of God, the fruit which we bear will be to his glory, and, in this condition, we will bear fruit.
The fruit of our lives indicates the character that we possess. “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
We estimate the value of a tree, not by its fine appearance, but, by the real character of the fruit which it bears; so the Lord values us, not by the fine appearance which we make, nor by the power of eloquence that we may possess, nor by the many other things that are esteemed so highly by man at the present time, but by our moral worth.
“The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. We believe that the end of all things is at hand, and that our characters are soon to be brought in review before the judgment-seat; and in view of this, what are we doing? Are we trying daily to conform our lives to the word of God? Are our works of that character that they will lead others to glorify God? Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
We believe that we have received great light from the sacred page. Does that light shine forth with all the brightness that it should? If it does, then the glory of God will be the result; but if it does not, we rob God of his glory and stand as transgressors of his righteous law.
We are under obligations to glorify God, because, as the apostle says, “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.” Again he says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
It is possible for us to do this, else these words would not have been written, because all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16. And since we are admonished to eat and drink to the glory of God, it is evident that we may do it in a manner which will not be to his glory. The Saviour has given us timely warning on this point. He says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
This language is addressed to those who may behold the coming of the Just One. May the Lord help us to take it home to our own hearts, and give good heed thereto.
What an exalted privilege it is that we can do something to the honor of Him who has done so much for us! Whatever our situation in life may be, we can, if we are imbued with the Spirit of Christ, do something to the glory of God. Are we standing alone with none of like faith to encourage us in the right way? then we may have this assurance, that if we live in harmony with the truth which we profess, have the glory of God in view, and are actuated from higher motives than those of selfishness, the fruit of our lives will not be lost. It is when we take the glory to ourselves that we fail in our efforts to do good. Let us seek righteousness and meekness, be clothed with humility as with a garment, have that meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price, and then can we glorify him in our bodies and spirits which are his.
D. A. ROBINSON.