THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 15, 1902

THE GLORY OF THE LORD.

It is a high spiritual attainment to be able to look upon the glory of the Lord's presence. Jesus says: "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Matt. 5:8. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:2, 3.

We have a remarkable illustration of the qualification necessary to a calm look at the glory of God. Saul of Tarsus, altho a religious zealot, was unconverted when he started from Jerusalem to go to Damascus. He was "exceedingly zealous of the traditions" of the fathers, but thought he "ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." When nearing Damascus, he "saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun," which struck him to the ground and blinded his eyes. The light which he saw was the glory of the Lord, but, being an enemy of Christ, he could not look upon it.

On the other hand we have the instance of Stephen, in whose martyrdom Saul was instrumental. When the Jews were "cut to the heart" by his stirring words, and "gnashed on him with their teeth," and it was evident that they would destroy him, he was encouraged by a view of his Lord and Master. "He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." He did not fall to the ground blinded by the glorious vision, as did Saul not long afterward. He calmly testified to the fact, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God."

Reverting to Paul, we find that after his conversion he had an "abundance" of "visions and revelations;" but he was not affected by them as he was on that first occasion, when he was arrested in his mad campaign against the Lord. Beyond this, too, we have the assurance through the prophet Isaiah that "he that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in His beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off." Isa. 33:15-17.

These are precious promises, but in contemplating the glory of their fulfilment, we must not fail to remember the conditions. G.