Living With God From Glory To Glory

One mountaintop in life, one success is not enough for full development or satisfaction. Therefore, we must live and look toward the next mountaintop, the next goal, the following glory. However, our expectation should be the Valley or No-Man's Land in between to be our vehicle, not our hindrance, to the next Glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (King James Version)

The New International Version reads, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Notice that the next glory compared to the  Mountaintop you are presently celebrating is promised to be higher or increased - "with ever-increasing glory". Therefore some call the time that justifies that higher mountain-top, that higher glory of life The Valley or The Refiner's Fire. From Glory to Glory is boot camp. From Glory to Glory is training and development of things personal and spiritual. From Glory to Glory, He is changing me. 

Michael English sang it well - "There's not a crown without a cross." If you allow the change to take place and reach that Glorious mountaintop then there is a successful transformation; a glorious change.

The 2 Corinthians 3:18 passage says a transformation occurs between the Glories ("being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,"). The word "transformed" implies change and with change comes possible friction and uncomfortableness. But fret not, Paul instructs and encourages - this transformation comes from the Lord.

Even though we were made in God's likeness, the image of God - mind, body and soul - this 2 Corinthians 3:18 verse informs believers that during the journey of faith "being transformed" into His image is an ongoing thing, a continual development into His nature. 

When Christians neglect this process at any point during their walk with King Jesus, the Lord instructs through John to the church of Ephesus and all believers through the ages to remember - "You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5)

Living from glory to glory cannot be done alone. We will have other believers to lean on and seek out during our faith-walk with the Lord, but none can compare to the One that Jesus promised believers always as He returned to Father God's right-hand side. 

Jesus asked and Father God sent the Parakletos. That is the Greek word for one who is called alongside another to comfort and counsel. This particular ministry is manifested through The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, living within the believer in Christ. Scriptures that speaks to this beautiful, guiding and leadership role the Holy Spirit takes in the Christian's life are found in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.

The success of attaining the next glory or elevated goal is determined by the Christian allowing the Holy Spirit's leadership and guidance daily. God is the ultimate gentleman. He does have a plan for your life, however He earnestly desires each believer to be whole-heartedly invested in His perspectives, promises and plan. 

Therefore, the Christian's responsibility during their lifetime with the Lord is to submit his/her own will and ways to the Lord and invite the Holy Spirit to lead every day, asking Him to make clear - His plan as the two of you strive for the next glory in life.

As a help, living truthfully will go a long way, in aiding yourself and the Holy Spirit to reach the next glory. Colossians 3:9-10 says, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."

There is that pursuit of the image of God mentioned again. And in that chase for His image - not lying, the opposite of the enemy's nature, is a great place to begin. Live a life of integrity. Do not embellish or exaggerate the truth. Shoot straight from the hip, as they say. Speak plainly. Start and maintain this in your private life and it will bleed-over into your public life where people will notice your truthful nature and you will be on your way to the next mountaintop.

A warning here. The minute you desire to start living this way - from glory to glory, with the Holy Spirit and life filled with truth and integrity - don't be surprised when you notice resistance.

There are two lions in Scripture and living with the right one is vital while you are transforming or in the developing stage of glories. 

The first lion is the lion you do not want to listen too. This lion makes so much noise that it is trying to deafen you to God's voice. And don't be shocked if he repeats a lot of the same thing like a natural lion might circle it's prey time and time again. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the first lion this way - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The encouragement is to "be alert and of sober mind". 

The second lion is another name for Christ Jesus found in Revelation 5:5 - the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. "In Genesis, as Jacob blesses his children, he promises Judah that his brothers will praise him and that they will bow down to him. Jacob also tells Judah, “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?” (Genesis 49:9). Jacob says that in the future the scepter and ruler’s staff will not depart from Judah “until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be His” (Genesis 49:10). This messianic prophecy points forward to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, the descendant of Judah who will rule the earth (Revelation 19:11–16)."

https://www.gotquestions.org/lion-tribe-Judah.html

This Lion, Christ Jesus, is to be heard and grasped. His words, power and promises are to be trusted. 

In between the glories is rough terrain. The Lone Ranger was one of the greatest misnomers of all titles and storylines because he had his companion Tonto alongside. How much more are Christians not alone.

Christians are blessed with the Counselor, Comforter and Lion of Judah alongside them in their corner should they allow a daily place for them. Walking the journey of faith with the responsibility of truthfulness and integrity falls to believers with this partnership as Christians work out Living With God From Glory To Glory.