Drawn To Glory

Read: Isaiah 60:1-3

All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Isaiah 60:3

IN WORD

Even from the beginning, it was clear that God was interested in more nations than just Israel. By calling this chosen people His “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), He implied there would be others. After all, firstborn does not mean only-born; there have to be others for something to be the first. And as often as God gave directions regarding the “aliens among you,” instructed His people to be a light for other nations, and declared that many would be drawn to the Temple in Jerusalem or to the Jewish people as a whole, it’s clear that His mission was global from the beginning. His presence becomes a magnet for those with ears to hear and hearts to know Him.

Though Isaiah 60 seems at first glance to be speaking of the end—of the Kingdom of God in all its fullness in the new heaven and new earth—it clearly speaks of a time when earth is still shrouded in darkness. It speaks of our age. And it tells us that in this age, God’s people can rise and shine and reflect His glory. Even in an age of darkness, there is a time when nations come to the light, not just of His glory, but of His glory in you.

We’ve seen that to a degree; faith has made inroads in virtually all of the nations and large ethnic groups of the world, though many remote people groups remain unreached. While we pray for more to come into God’s light, He prophesies that they will come into ours. As we step fully into our calling as redeemed and restored human beings, both created and restored into His image, nations will be drawn to His/our glory.

IN DEED

It’s possible to live well beneath the glory of God even while He is holding it out to offer it to you. We do that when we work for Him rather than with Him, pray to Him rather than in Him, and reason about Him rather than receiving from Him. But the nations are depending on our capacity to reflect the nature of God, whether they realize it or not. They are waiting to see who is truly not of this age. They are looking for the difference. And as we open ourselves to His glory, they will see it.

ADDITIONAL READING: 1 Peter 5:10-11

If Christ lives in us, controlling our personalities, we will leave glorious marks on the lives we touch.

EUGENIA PRICE