One of the best parts about myths is the point where the hero/heroine is revealed in their glory. In Cinderella, it happens when the prince puts the slipper on Cinderella’s foot and recognizes her for who she is. In The Lord of the Rings, it happens when Aragorn finally arrives to the Battle of Minas Tirith on the enemy’s ships. This theme also occurs throughout the Bible. Joseph, who was sold into slavery, is recognized by his brothers as the second highest man in the kingdom of Egypt. Even Jesus fits this mold. I mean, who would care about a carpenter’s son from Nazareth. Let me be the one to tell you that you have a glory that you may have never realized too. You may doubt me on this. “I’m too screwed up Bill. I’ve done certain things so God couldn’t possibly use a person like me to accomplish something incredible.” This is a lie I hope you have realized after reading my other blog posts.
There is a glory to your life that the Enemy fears. Things are not as they seem because we are not as we seem. We were created to reflect God’s glory because Christ came to give us back our hearts and set us free. “The glory of God is man fully alive.” If this is true, then the opposite shouldn’t be true. We were not created to sulk around in a cellar weighed down by shame and guilt. Guilt is not from God people! We are destined to live with an ever-increasing glory. Your heart bears this glory and it is needed. Now. This is the desperate hour we have been called to.
Something a lot of Christians struggle with, me included, is that we think there’s nothing good in us. We think that we are no-good wretches, ready to sin at a moment’s notice, incapable of goodness. This is completely unbiblical! Most Christians will refer to Romans 7:18a, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.” There is an important distinction though. There is nothing good in your sinful nature. That’s not the real you though! You are good and if you don’t believe me, you obviously haven’t read my other blog posts. “Well, then, if this is all true, why don’t I see it?” Exactly. This is the point I have been trying to make clear. The fact that you do not see your good heart and glory is only proof of how effective the assault has been. We have been living under a veil for far too long. It is time we come alive.
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 We’re going to think mythically, again, for a moment. A lot of the Lion King can relate to Christianity. There was a beautiful kingdom that was taken away by the enemy. Simba was blamed for the death of his father and after years of losing heart he comes across a wart hog and a meerkat. One night Simba dreams:
Mufasa: Simba.
Simba: Father?
Mufasa: Simba, you have forgotten me.
Simba: No! How could I?
Mufasa: You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba…you are more than what you have become.
Simba: How can I go back? I’m not who I used to be.
Mufasa: Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king. Remember who you are.
Simba is then finally able to throw off the veil of shame and self-reproach to take back the kingdom that is rightly his and we have been called to the same.
Think of your favorite character you read about as you were growing up or even your favorite character from a book you love to reread now. What draws you to this person? More than likely, even through all the crap they go through, you still see their true selves shine through. You see their character. We are just the same! They have a glory that you are attracted to and we have that same glory if we would remember who we truly are.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson
Maybe you don’t believe this quote. If you don’t, I challenge you to read it multiple times and pray about it. Do you fear your own glory? If you think this is prideful let me tell you it is NOT prideful to embrace the truth that you bear the image of God. We are able to walk in humility because it is a glory given to us, nothing we do deserves it. I think the main reason we fear our own glory is because once we let others see it, they will have seen the truest us. “We can repent of our sin. We can work on our issues. But there is nothing to be done about our glory. It’s so naked.” It can be a bit awkward shining when everyone else is not.
Living with your glory is the only loving thing you can possibly do. You cannot love another person with a fake you. You cannot love while you are still in hiding. It will take courage to do so, but remember you have your heart and it is good! Christ is greater than he who is in the world! Maybe you know somebody who lives with this glory radiating out of them and you are deeply impressed with it. You can do the same thing by being the glory that God has created in you. We must admit we have a new heart and a glory from God, embrace this truth, and live with it. Be what He meant you to be. Come fully alive because it is a risk worth taking.
Don’t be afraid to let God’s light shine through you. Love on someone hurting, pray for your lost friends, give up your time to be with somebody, be intentional in your conversations with others. Come alive. I pray that you won’t be ashamed of the glory God has created in you. Let it consume you. If you have anything you would like me to pray for or something you would like to talk about don’t hesitate to do so.
Don’t be afraid to let God’s light shine through you. Love on someone hurting, pray for your lost friends, give up your time to be with somebody, be intentional in your conversations with others. Come alive. I pray that you won’t be ashamed of the glory God has created in you. Let it consume you. If you have anything you would like me to pray for or something you would like to talk about don’t hesitate to do so.
In Love,
Bill
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