On Display

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3
(This was quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:17-19 referring to himself.)

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61.10

All of that to point out something: The heavens (creation) declares and proclaims God's handiwork. It pours out speech for the knowledge of God. And we "hear" it. So often the creation inspires us to worship the Creator when we see its beauty. Awe inspiring. Worship inspiring. That's what it's supposed to do.

But, those who have received salvation and been clothed with righteousness (which all Christians have) are called "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he may display his beauty" or as another translation puts it, "a planting of the Lord for a display of his splendor." A display of his splendor!

Can you imagine that? The creation only gets to speak of the glory of God. We are a display of it! We are the visual image of the splendor of God! How can that be? Do you see yourself that way? Do you see other Christians that way? Awe inspiring? Worship inspiring? We may not be able to see it, but it's true, and the creation knows it and waits eagerly for it to be made known so that it will be liberated into the same freedom we have.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21

Wow. One day who we really are will be revealed for all to see. It's way easier for us to "listen" to the creation proclaiming the glory of God and worship him than it is for us to "see" the glory and splendor and beauty of God in each other. Oh Lord, may we be filled with the same awe and wonder in the righteous beauty of one another and worship you because of it, and may we walk in the amazing knowledge that your glory is displayed in us!