Seeing Jesus In God’s Glory

Joshua was in the tent of meeting when God’s Glory came, and God spoke to Moses face to face (Exodus 33:11). Joshua saw God's Glory many times but never saw the person of God who spoke to Moses in God's Glory. If Joshua had seen the person of God even once, when the commander of the army of the LORD came, he would have easily recognised that the army commander belonged to God. We might also be in the same place. We see God's Glory many times through His presence and anointing, but we don’t see the person of God, i.e. Jesus, in God's Glory. So many times, we see God's Glory with many external manifestations, but we don’t see the Jesus in God’s Glory.

Every time when God's Glory comes, seeing Jesus should be our main priority. Seeing Jesus in God's glory or presence will unveil God's plans in your life and propel you into your calling, having a profound impact on your life. Many people’s lives were changed after seeing Jesus in God’s Glory. Seeing external manifestations without seeing Jesus is not worth it and will have no effect on your spiritual life. Many young people in this generation are so caught up with external manifestations of God’s Glory such as gold dust, tremendous light, or angels that they fail to see(don’t see) Jesus in God's Glory.

They talk so high about external manifestations. It is a waste of time and years if we see external manifestations of God’s Glory without seeing Jesus in God’s Glory. What would have happened if Ezekiel saw only the four living creatures without seeing God seated on the throne( Ezekiel 1)? If Ezekiel would have been caught with external manifestations like living creatures and the brightness of God’s Glory without seeing God, he would have not understand God’s plans and would not have entered God’s calling in His life. Only when Ezekiel saw God in His Glory, did God's purposes for his life become clear, and he entered into God’s calling.

Though the living creatures and their ambience was so magnificent and marvellous, Ezekiel continued in the vision until he saw God on His throne. When God's presence comes, even if the external manifestations are spectacular and marvellous, we must continue until we see or hear from Jesus in God's presence. We need to have patience to continue till we see Jesus in God’s presence. Many people are happy and glad to see the external manifestations but don’t pursue until they see Jesus in God’s Glory. Jesus is so marvellous and magnificent that all other external manifestations become dim in God’s presence.

External manifestations(living creatures or brightness or angels) are only the outer core of God's Glory, while the person of God(Jesus), is the centre of God's Glory. If the external manifestations are so marvellous, imagine how the centre of God's Glory, Jesus, will appear. Jesus is far more magnificent, brighter, spectacular and stunning than any other person or object in the universe. We must take a journey from the outer core - external manifestations - to the centre of God's Glory, i.e. Jesus. In Isaiah’s vision(Isaiah 6), the mighty seraphim’s covered their faces before God because they could not withstand the brightness, radiance and grandeur of God. Jesus is the centre and core of God’s glory.

If only we would see Jesus in God’s Glory and presence, we will lose interest in all other external manifestations, including angels, gold dust, etc. Some people talk a lot(highly) about external manifestations like gold dust or clouds, and when we hear that, we know they haven't seen Jesus in God's glory. Though Ezekiel had seen such a magnificent vision with living creatures and whirlwind, the focus of his vision is God seated on the throne. Joshua has spent many years in the tent of meeting and has witnessed many external manifestations of God's Glory, such as a cloud, intense light, Moses' face shining, and so on.

But he did not see the person of God in God’s Glory, so he was unable to recognise the army commander. Even if you spend a long time or years in or near God's Glory, if you don’t see Jesus in that Glory it’s not worth it. Though you may see many external manifestations of God's Glory such as gold dust, clouds, lightning, and so on, it is not worth it if you do not see Jesus. Joshua was Israel's next leader, but his ministry actually began when he had an encounter with the commander of the army of the LORD. It's the same for us also. We might be in or near God's Glory, seeing all external manifestations of God's Glory such as clouds, yet His calling or plans do not begin or unfold in our lives until we see Jesus in God's Glory.