Reflective Glory

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. – Colossians 1:27

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. – Hebrews 1:3-4

One of the most amazing thoughts is how God is after glory in us! His purpose for us is beholding His glorious image. The sun and moon illustrates this mystery. We understand that the moon is simply a reflector. The glory of the moon is the radiance of the sun. The moon's shine is a reflective glory. Similarly, Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, and the image of God is perfectly clear in Him. Further still, Jesus coming into us not only means purification of sin, a cleaning up, but being that reflector of glory in us. The good news message is where God is communicating, “I want my glory to shine in you.”

Through the covenant of Christ we are being brought from one stage of glory to another (2Cor. 3:18). Like it says, it is a transformation process that is ever increasing. We have the ideal man, Jesus ever before us. In Him we're not simply followers; we're reflectors—image bearers. A real man will keep himself pure in the holiest sense. Getting specific and practical has value beyond being effective because it all comes in terms of being reflective.

Peter Heins

(an article from my site on the study of manhood: www.idealman.wordpress.com)