(May 16, 2010)

We see many sights over our lifetimes. But, there are only a few that change our lives. There is no greater experience than that of the Glory of God. When get a glimpse, you are never the same. Peter, James and John never forgot what they saw. Saul never forgot what he saw. Moses never forgot what he saw.

So, what does it mean to see the Glory of God? Moses had an experience with the Burning Bush. What was invisible became visible. How is this possible? Through God, the Father. When you catch a glimpse, it becomes you goal in life to continue to pursue it. Once you experience the Glory of God, you want more. You get just a glimpse of what Heaven is like.

1. The Glory transforms us. When Moses saw the Glory, his attitude toward his own life changed. Nobody can have a God encounter and remain the same.

2. The Glory separates us. We are called to be in the world, but not of the world. It's after we see the Glory that we are separated for His service. It sets us apart for God's word. The old church called it sanctification. It means that you are filled with the Spirit of God and separated. Why do people let those who they love to beat them up physically and mentally? It's because they take on so much stuff of other people and they don't know that they should be separated for God.

3. The Glory instills courage into our lives. Moses lacked courage, but when he sought God, the Lord had an answer and gave Moses the courage to spread His word. When you have an excuse, God always has an answer. When you have this courage, you aren't afraid of what people think, just what God thinks.

4. The Glory sustains us. Our walk is just that: a walk. It's not a sprint. It takes time. There are stumbling blocks. There are times in which we walk the wrong path. But, when we have seen the Glory of God, we will have the vision to continue, to scratch and claw closer and closer to the Father. The vision keeps us going and going. When we are discouraged, we don't let it stay with us. We are sustained to continue to pursue His Glory once again. If someone can pursue the vision to be famous on American Idol with all their might, we should be able to easily able to pursue the Glory of God.

5. The Glory builds enduring faith. How do you see the invisible? Through faith! By faith, we wil endure. How many people have started off in Christianity as close to God, but didn't have that closeness later? They lost their faith. Why? They didn't experience the Glory! If they had experienced the Glory, they would never have fallen away.

- Jon Bruney