“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—” 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

JUST A GLIMPSE of GLORY

Oh, if only! If only we could have a glimpse into what is to come!

 It would only take a second. A small peek. A flash of glory.

 Then we would never be satisfied with earthly things. The temptations of the world would no longer be attractive, for we would see them as what they are — undesirable, empty, unfulfilling, temporary, mere shadows of the joy awaiting.

 If we could just hear for a moment the indescribable sounds, the beginnings of a story of eternity, the sound of glory we’ve never heard!

 We would recognize all other sounds as noise, distraction, a cacophony of the present, or an echo from a future that is just out of reach.

 If our hearts could stretch our imaginations beyond the conglomeration of images and sounds in the familiar to the possibility of more, so much more than our finite hearts can comprehend!

 We would feel ever deeper the longings we’ve always had, but were unaware of or unable to put into words.

 The satisfaction of instant gratification? Not possible. Instead, we would find a new contentment in the waiting, trusting that the things prepared by God are infinitely better beyond comparison and beyond comprehension.   

C.S. Lewis, in The Weight of Glory, puts it this way: “Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises reward, and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.” 

Oh, if only we could see, hear, imagine!

But then, where would the faith be? The conviction of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen? (Hebrews 11:1-2)

Yet, perhaps, God does gives us little glimpses of glory to boost our faith, to enhance our longing, to broaden our desire for more than this life offers.

The smell of a clean baby, the thrill of an innocent kiss, a moment of true heart worship, the beauty of a sunset, the joy of childish laughter, the serenity of a mountaintop, the rhythmic sound of waves, the comfort of loving arms, the prayers of a father, the tears of a mother, the right scripture at just the needed moment, the astonishing design in creation, peace beyond understand in deep sorrow, the incessant chatter of a preschooler, and so many tiny sparks of hope.

O, Father, may the little things in life that keep us longing for more turn our eyes, ears, and hearts forward! May they serve Your greater purpose to increase our faith in something and Someone greater. May they expand our love for You and our trust in the better to come.

Help us remember, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him!”

One day our longing will be fulfilled.

 God has placed that longing for more, that need for a glimpse of glory, in all of our souls. See Know Jesus or What is the Gospel Anyway for more details on knowing the only One will fulfill that longing.