New Jerusalem is a marvelous city “having the glory of God” (Revelation 21:11). This glory will be manifested publicly when the Lord Jesus returns (Matthew 24:30) and we “will be manifested with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
The open manifestation of the glory is in the future. Yet, 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that we are “beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord.” This chapter speaks of the Spirit giving life (v. 6), the ministry of the Spirit (v. 8), the Lord being the Spirit (v. 17), and transformation from the Lord Spirit (v. 18). From this we realize that the glory, which has not yet been revealed openly/publicly, is visible spiritually. When we turn our hearts to the Lord (v. 16), there is no veil and we behold and reflect the glory of the Lord.
This thought continues into chapter 4. Here “the gospel of the glory of Christ” can shine into people because God “is the One who shined in our hearts to illuminate the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” How wonderful that the glory of God is visible when our heart turns to Him. Lord, remind us to turn to You every day that we may be unveiled and see You and Your glory.
The glory that is invisible to physical eyes today will be revealed to everyone when the Lord Jesus returns after the tribulation—“then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27).
We can and should pray for that time. Come, Lord Jesus. Yet, we should not be those waiting passively but rather behold and reflect the glory of the Lord today, tomorrow, and all the way to New Jerusalem.
Photo by David Cartier Sr, courtesy of NASA.
New Jerusalem - the Consummation 
Marva Kaufman
/ November 11, 2013Paul could have cajoled the Corinthians into giving him some marvelous letters of recommendation. Paul could have trumpeted his own ministry, called attention to himself, hired a public relations staff, etc. But Paul knew that God’s way was to “advertise” only through the lives of the Corinthians themselves. Their lives were the only legitimate letters of recommendation, demonstrating the effect of the apostle’s ministry. People were to look at this band of followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, look at their spiritual growth and service, and conclude “truly, this must be the work of God we see”. How do we glorify God? We let Him glorify Himself through us. If we continue to follow Him, continue to grow spiritually, continue to bear up under the testing He sends our way, and meet the challenge of personal ministry, then His power, His love, His glory will indeed be reflected in our lives. Paul’s words here do not mean that we should seek to glorify God by vociferously making an issue of our Christianity. Paul is not telling the Corinthians to print up bumper stickers with “this ox-cart is bound for heaven” on them. It is not by merely by saying “I am a Christian” that God’s glory is reflected. No, we can only fully reflect His glory by living like Christians so that others will say “this must be the power of God we see”.
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