1. Are you ready for the glory?

The prophet Isaiah foretold the revelation of God’s glory. It’s coming he said! So get ready. Pave the way. Build the highway straight. Smooth out the bumps. Fill the potholes. Prepare for the coming glory of God.
What is this glory?
OT—basic meaning is “heavy.” Rarely used literally—2 places:
1 Sa 4:18 (NASB95) When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years.
2 Sa 14:25-26 (NASB95) Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect in him. When he cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king’s weight.
Used figuratively in the sense of one being heavy with sin—burden of sin. And of course concerning honor.
Another use of glory stands in a category all by itself: the glory of God. But what is the glory of God??
God’s glory = God unmasked. The true essence of God. The clarity of his holiness. The purity of his love.
NBD—The revelation of God’s being, nature and presence to mankind, sometimes with physical phenomena. In the Pentateuch the glory of Yahweh went with his people out of Egypt and was shown in the cloud which led them through the wilderness (Ex. 16:7, 10). The cloud rested on Mt Sinai, where Moses saw his glory (Ex. 24:15-18). No man could see God’s face and live (Ex. 33:20), but some vision of his glory was granted (Ex. 34:5-8). The glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34-35) and appeared especially at the hour of sacrifice (Lv. 9:6, 23).
Isaiah predicts the revealing of God’s glory in a new and more intimate way—he’s pointing to the coming of Messiah.
A link to Jesus. God came and filled the tabernacle (tent) with his presence/glory. In the first advent of Christ, God came and filled the tent of human flesh. It is through Jesus that we behold God’s glory—through Jesus, the glory is revealed.

· Jn 1:14 (NASB95) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I’ve considered God’s glory from time-to-time in my pilgrimage. And I must admit that it seems an abstract concept, especially since no one may see the glory of God straight-on/unmasked and survive the experience. For me, God’s glory takes form as I consider the man Jesus. Through Jesus, God’s glory (God unmasked, if you will) is no longer an invisible, intangible concept, but rather a living, breathing, loving person.
Points to both the 1st and 2nd advents of the Lord. But note the phrase “all mankind together will see it.”
So this is Christmastime—that part of the year when we contemplate more fully the coming of Christ to live with us.
In a sense we are able to re-live the revelation of God’s glory each year at this time as we celebrate the coming of the Christ—as we participate in the festivities of Christmas. We have the opportunity to “see” God in a special way.
If we’re going to truly experience the glory, then we must get ready for it!! So . . .

2. How do we get ready for the glory?

Getting ready. Lights, trees, shopping, baking. Nothing wrong with this! But, if we’re not careful, we mask the glory of God in Christ. Let me suggest three activities we should engage in as we prepare:

a) Thoughtful meditation

· Grinch—thought he could stop Christmas by taking all the stuff—the trappings. What he didn’t realize is that their joy resided in their hearts—all the stuff was the outward expression of the inner joy the Who’s had. It’s all about our heart so . . .

· Must start here—with the heart. Critical to preparing for the glory is preparing our hearts. That we do through mediation.

· One time of the year where we really need quiet—stillness. Time to do what Mary did when the shepherds visited them at Jesus’ birth: Lk 2:19 (NIV) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Instead our lives are filled with shopping and decorating, and partying, and . . .. We need tranquility to reflect on what God has done.

· Now when I suggest meditation, I’m not speaking of empty-headed chanting. In Christian meditation we fill our minds with God’s truth. Like the happy man described in Ps 1:2 (NIV) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

· Spending time in God’s word. Doing it here is not enough. Takes time—at home—by yourself—in quiet—no TV—no telephone—no computer (just in case). Suggestion: select a Gospel and prayerfully read a chapter each day.

· Now later in this worship service we’ll be eating at the Lord’s Table as we partake of Holy Communion—this is part of our preparation—communion, if we let it, touches our core—our hearts—do something this morning. Try to move beyond the ritual—seek to truly open your heart so that you might experience the reality of Christ.

b) Hopeful expectation

· Recently ribbed about enjoying the reading of history—better to stick with the now. I mean, after all, history’s about a bunch of dead people. Can’t help it, I delight in exploring yesterday by reading history. There’s nothing quite like living in days gone by vicariously—see life through the eyes of those gone before.

· The Gospels not consider history in the sense that we generally think of historical works; nonetheless, they are documents which are historically accurate. So that you and I may step back in time through the picture painted by the Gospel writers. We can experience somewhat the eager anticipation of God’s people as they awaited the coming Messiah. At the time of our Lord’s 1st advent, the atmosphere was supercharged with hope. —the folks were eagerly waiting for the arrival of their Savior. Wait for the baby as did Joseph and Mary. Witness the announcement of angels and a first look at the Savior through they eyes of the shepherd. Journey with the magi as they journeyed to Judah to see the child. Hold the babe with Simeon’s arms as Mary and Joseph bring him to the tmple for the first time.

· We’ve done the Christmas thing for so many years that, quite frankly, I’m afraid we take Christ’s coming for granted. He came—we know that. OK, so now what? Another Christmas—another Christmas tree—another passel of presents—another Christmas feast. And so on and so on. As we re-live the event of his coming, God will re-invigorate us. Once again we’ll look to his coming with eagerness—with hope—with expectant hearts.

c) Joyful celebration

Washington State Capitol sign
Atheist Holiday Cards
Atheists celebrate Christmas. What do they have to celebrate?
Us. WE HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE!!
Now comes the lights, etc. No holds barred. Free-for-all. Not just because we’ve done it every year in the past, but because our hearts are exploding with joy in the present!
Because Messiah has indeed come, and we get to experience his coming once more!

Conclusion

· So let us break bread together with hopeful hearts as we celebrate his coming.

Hymn: #618 “Let Us Break Bread Together”