Saturday, September 5, 2009
Only Glory By and By
(Philippians 2:9-16)
Biblically speaking, humility is simply delayed exaltation. Jesus, our Divine Example, humbled Himself in His earthly ministry. When His earthly ministry was complete, He enjoyed exaltation at the right hand of God (9 and Acts 2:33). We, as His followers, are to live by the same time table.
Conversely, then, pride consists of getting the proverbial cart before the horse. Pride wants acknowledgement now at the cost of eternity. Jesus warned against impertinently seeking earthly praise by repeatedly warning such glory hounds that “they have their reward” (Mt. 6:2, 5, 16). In fact, one who exalts himself on this earth will taste the bitter cup of abasement in eternity (Mt. 23:12).
The power-mad, achievement-oriented world frequently views Christian humility as weakness and failure. Our culture lionizes the pride of self-achievement, unprincipled advancement, and success-at-any-price philosophies. In our world, arrogance is king and worldly success is queen. So pervasive is this philosophy that even the saints sometimes get ensnared in its seductive web (Ps. 73:1-3). We need not, however, be so influenced.
God will, in His time, exalt humble Christian saints. Our “time to shine” will be at the “day of Christ,” His bema seat judgment (16). In that day humility, self-sacrifice, and service will be both remembered and rewarded. In that day, the humble will be exalted, and will return the glory to the One worthy of all—Jesus Christ our sovereign Lord and Saviour (Rev. 4:10).
