Praise to the Radiance of God’s Glory
“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature,…”
This has always been one of my favorite ways Jesus is described: the radiance of God’s glory!
The word “radiance” is only used 5 times in 5 verses in 3 books of the Bible. In each of those, it refers to God. The writers have a glimpse of God and reach for words to describe His brilliance and the light illuminating from Him. He is light, so He’s described as brightness. Commentator Vines defines God’s “radiance” as “shining forth, of a light coming from a luminous body.”
Bless yourself and read Ezekiel’s attempt to describe God: Ezekiel 1:27, 28. Habakkuk 3:4, 11 are the other two places where God’s radiance are mentioned. Then, we read what the writer to the Hebrews said; that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. Christ reflects God. He glows with Him. He can’t help it. He is God. He’s His Father’s Son…masked in a human body; just waiting to get out at His resurrection and ascension. But Jesus stayed in His earthen body until He accomplished what He and His Father wanted Him to do. He redeemed us. And one sweet, glorious day, we’ll join Ezekiel and every other person who has had a glimpse of God’s radiance. We’ll fall on our faces as they did; overwhelmed by what our eyes sees. That day is coming because Jesus is returning through the clouds soon and very soon.
Heavenly Father, our hearts are overwhelmed as we read the accounts of those who have had glimpses of You. We can’t imagine what it will be like to see Your glory. We praise You now and forever.