The likeness of the Glory of God
Scripture reading for August 17: Ezekiel 1-6
Ezekiel had just turned 30 years of age and he was a priest who now entered full-time ministry. He had been taken into captivity and was in Babylon with a group of exiles which included Daniel and his friends. They met by the Chebar River to have their Sabbath observances and feast days. While they were meeting, God opened the heavens and gave Ezekiel a vision of God that changed his life and gave him direction and focus. God called him to go to His people and give them God’s Word. God warned him the people were rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. (Ezekiel 2:1-4)
The vision that Ezekiel saw of the throne of God was spectacular. It began with a windstorm coming from the north with a towering thundercloud and flashing lightning and fire in the center. As it got closer, Ezekiel could see four living creatures. (Ezekiel 1:4-9) These creatures had the form of a man but they had four faces and feet like a calf and four wings with hands underneath. They glowed like bronze and the faces were that of an eagle, ox, lion and man. Below on the ground, there was a wheel that sparkled and had another intersecting wheel. These wheels were full of eyes on the rim and enabled the creatures to move in all directions as the Spirit moved them. When these creatures with the wheels moved, there was a sound like that of roaring waters, like the voice of God.
As Ezekiel looked he noticed a glowing throne of sapphire above the creatures and on the throne was a figure like that of a man. He was glowing with fire and brilliant light surrounded Him. This light looked like a rainbow and glowed with radiance! (Ezekiel 1:26-28) This figure had the “likeness of the Glory of God”! When Ezekiel saw it he fell to the ground in awe. He was overcome by the likeness of God’s glory!
The Scripture states that sinful man would die if he could see the full radiance of His Glory. But God grants some grace to see a glimpse of His glory. Moses was hidden by God in the cleft of the rock and was allowed to see His backside. (Exodus 33:18-20) Now God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show mankind the Glory of God. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to have the Glory of God revealed to us by the Spirit. We are being transformed by that grace gift with ever increasing glory! (2nd Corinthians 3:18) When Jesus Christ appears and the trumpet blows, we will be instantly transformed into a glorious body, like His glorious body! (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18) We now carry the “likeness of the Glory of God”!
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