“The he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
Before the beginning of time, with the creation of Satan, who fell from his position of archangel to become the arch-enemy of God, there has been an attitude and will in the world to usurp the glory of God, specifically by claiming that sinful flesh has accomplished the work of God. However, the Apostle Paul said that nothing good abided in his flesh, and that “…it is God which worketh in you the willing and the doing of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) From God being revealed to mankind as the Creator, Redeemer, Keeper, Sustainer in Life, and Shepherd and our Father, the Lord is ever teaching mankind not to touch, or reclaim His glory. Why? It is for at least two reaons, the first of which is that man, in and of himself, nor Satan with all his horde of fallen angels, is not capable of accomplishing one thing that is holy, good, and true. The Lord Jesus told his disciples, “…for without me ye can do NOTHING.” (Jn. 15:5) However, the Lord Jesus did say, “…This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” (Jn. 6:29) God’s way of working with and through man by the Spirit is to bring that individual to faith, faith in the faithfulness of God. It is to this faith that the Lord responds, for without it it is impossible to please Him. The second reson for which man must not touch the glory of God is the fact that it is NOT his, does not belong to him at all. James tells us that, “…every good and perfect gift is from above, and comethin down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) God cannot change who He is, nor what He has done, in the revealing of His glory to men. But He does give man the capacity to open his mouth wide, that it might be filled. He calls man to humble himself under the mighty hand of God, being persuaded that God will lift him up, and honor him. God cannot deny Himself, nor His role and ways with men. He works in them faith, true faith, whereby they can become good receivers of the grace and mercy of God. To seek to touch the glory of God, and claim it to be our own, is like Uzza who stretched forth his hand to touch the ark, knowing that it was forbidden to touch it. He died as a result. And yet, when Jesus was accomplishing His ministry, going about doing good, He at one point asked the man with the withered hand to stretch it forth, by faith. It was as the man believed God, and obeyed, that the miracle of the glory of God would be reveald. This always occurs when the believer, whose heart is clean and pure, seeks the Lord’s hightest and best, in order to give HIm all the glory.
But how does this teaching apply to the believer? It was J.C. Lavater who wrote the following, which is a hymn, but also a prayer: “Make this poor self grow less and less, Be Thou my life and aim; Oh, make me daily through Thy grace more meet to bear Thy name.” Why does this author say such things? There is no doubt that he does not feel even worthy to “touch the hem of Jesus’ garment,” much less His glory. However he realizes that his calling means that he can receive the glorious life of Christ, by the Spirit, and be led forth by Him, filled with fruits divine. Jesus told Martha that she would be see the glory of God. The Psalmist prayed that children would see God’s glory. Why? It is in beholding the glory of the Lord that the believer is transformed into the same image.
Dear Father, Accomplish Thy work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.