I recall having a conversation with my dad when I was probably in my late teens or so, and it culminated with me confoundedly “accusing” him with, “You act like every single thing we do is suppose to glorify God!”

“Well, yes,” was his simple and rock solid reply.

Not quite what I expected back. I thought I had made a fine statement pointing out the ridiculosity in his thought process.

Reminiscing on that now, I see that he was likely the incredulous one thinking, “What have I been trying to tell you all along? Is that such a foreign concept to you–to do everything for the glory of God???”

Inside, I was probably defensive because of my love for metal shows and movies, thinking I could not possibly do those things to the glory of God. Doing something for the glory of God meant going to church, or participating in ministering in the form of what we called “visitation” which, to me, was some uncomfortable interaction in which we try to convince people of what they should believe.

My thinking was off.

As I use to tell my personal training clients who were concerned with their lack of strength, “It’s not how much you do, it’s how you do it.”

I still go to metal shows and movies, but with different eyes, ears, and heart. I go with God, in His Presence, listening to Him, looking for Him, as well as the needs of the world. I’ll never forget going to an Avenged Sevenfold show with my buddy Todd, and having three incredible opportunities to share the love of Jesus with people hurting, in need, or looking for some sort of answer to life’s woes. We were blown away by how they were slow-pitch served up to us. We were simply paying attention, open to God, His leading, His glory.

By the way, what the heaven is glory anyway? Sometimes we throw around words or phrases in Christendom, and I wonder if we even know what we’re talking about. So I looked up “Glory” in a few of the many large, heavy, intimidating-looking books on my shelves to find that glory refers to honor, praise, dignity, reputation, as well as opinion, conjecture, and expectation. So we are seeking to bring attention to God’s reputation, not our own. His praise, not ours. To honor God, not ourselves. In the OT, glory referred to God’s tangible Presence in creation full of splendor and majesty, unapproachable because of its pure awesomeness. It was shrouded in the cloud on Mt. Sinai so as to shield humans from it’s terrible greatness.

In the Name of Jesus,
Soli Deo Gloria