The Lord has given me a couple small pictures recently that depict what He is doing as He raises many sons to Glory. We shared one yesterday about how God’s Glory will be experienced through His Sons. If you’re not familiar with this concept, you should read the portion on Sonship in The Seed (and perhaps all of The Seed!) But for now, here’s one verse…
“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10)
I saw a gemstone and noticed that it is beautiful in large part because of its many facets. Originally, gemstones were probably all displayed in cabochon (smoothed and rounded) form. Stonecutters eventually learned to cut facets into the stones so that the beauty of the stone could shine forth through each of the facts. Each one adding it’s one sparkle and dimension.
God could have chosen to be the lone shining star in all of Creation. He certainly is the all in all. But this is not what He wanted. He wanted to raise a family. A family of sons who are like Him. Who radiate His Glory to all Creation. Sons who have His wisdom and can rule His creation as He would. Sons who know His goodness, righteousness, and holiness and can share this as priests of His Order and Way.
So God is raising Sons. Each is to have the mind of Christ. Wisdom from above. And the Glory of God. And yet, each is unique. A perfectly formed individual creation. A creation which displays His Glory in a particular way which no other can. Each one a facet on the only perfect gemstone.
God could have chosen to be a cabochon beauty at the heart of it all and certainly His radiance would have been enough to dazzle and awe us for eternity. But His plans are much bigger. He will display His glory in the multifaceted beauty of His Household through His matured sons. Each one representing a different aspect of His Glory. In us, He will be seen by all. Accessible to all. Magnified and more brilliant than had He done it any other way.
You can read our thoughts on the Fiscal Cliff debates here: 1) Fiscal Cliff Intro & 2) Examples of Higher Taxes Lowering State Revenue, & 3) Fiscal Cliff Update.