God's Glory on Earth

This week, I published Part 3 of the God is Light series, focusing on God’s Glory is Light on Earth.

---

---

I’ve been intrigued by the connection between God’s glory and light. Then earlier this week, I read Isaiah 6:1-3 as my transforming verse of the day, and I recorded my reflections on these verses in this note:

In particular, the phrase “the whole earth is full of his glory” struck me. If his glory is visible as light, I was trying to think of sources of light on earth that would reflect his glory: the sun, moon, and stars; fire, candles, and electricity; fireflies and other luminescent creatures.

Then the next day, I picked this verse from my transforming verse of the day jar (I’m guessing it wasn’t a coincidence…):

Isaiah 45:18: For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens,
he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth,
he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty,
but formed it to be inhabited—
he says:
“I am the Lord,
and there is no other.”

God didn’t create the earth to be empty. He formed it to be inhabited. Who inhabits the earth? Yes, plants and animals live on this earth. But the main inhabitants of this earth are humans. You and me.

You know what the Bible says about God’s creation of us? He didn’t create us in the same way he created the plants and animals and the rest of nature. He formed us to be in his image:

Genesis 1:27: So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

If we are created in God’s image, and God is light, then we are little light bearers. If light is the manifestation of God’s glory, then we are little images of God’s glory. WE are God’s glory on earth.

Matthew 5 bears this out. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:14-16: ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

What are you doing with your light? What are you doing with God’s glory that has been placed inside you? Are you shining that light in a way that helps others glorify God? We’ve been given a huge responsibility. We are God’s messengers on earth. It’s time to take that responsibility seriously and live in a way that reflects God’s glory.