Why the Glory of God Comes

We often read of God's glory filling up structures (tabernacle, temple, our bodies). But, why does his glory come? Keep Reading...

READ
Exodus 40:33-35 - Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

REFLECT
"And so Moses finished the work. Then…." God comes with his glory in response to our preparation. The Israelites had followed his instructions to the detail. Every fabric was woven, each pole was crafted, and every artifact made out of the right wood / metal combination. God’s seat, the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant, was also prepared. The manifest presence of God - his Glory - was now ready to fill the Tabernacle.

God always comes in response to us. He says, "Come near to me, and I will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8 The preparation he calls for is purity or holiness. The glory of God is attracted by clean hands and mouth, by holy hearts and pure worship. Psalm 24:3-7

But, why does the "glory of God" come and fill our structures? The glory of God is his manifest presence... his way of making himself known to us. You see, God wants intimate relationship with us. He wants to come really close. His glory shows that he is with us - not just hovering around us, but sitting among us and living with us.

God's glory is not meant to scare or intimidate us, but draw us close. In fact, his glory resides in you as a Christian. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16 Because of Jesus' sacrifice, the preparation has now been made. He has come to live in you.

RESPOND
As the Israelites tended the fire (altar of incense) before the Ark of the Covenant, will you tend your fire - your heart, hands and mouth of purity? Let God show you if there is any impurity in your relationships, thoughts or words. Be sure to repent and clean out your tabernacle.