Whatever season you’re going through, ask God today to help you see glimpses of his glory. You may catch it in the most unusual places.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a glimpse of glory for you.
And I remember it like it was yesterday. My secretary Francie and I were flying into a Midwest city and as our plane began its long approach to the runway, I looked out our window and immediately I noticed the way the lowering sun reflected off everything that was either wet or metallic. Streams of water became ribbons of molten silver, car windows flashed like golden shields, and big puddles glimmered like shiny pennies. I peered ahead to see what was coming up next, and I saw a cemetery. As the large sprawling cemetery came rushing toward our plane on the left side, I briefly noted that there were no headstones – only plates of brass, marking each grave. But I was not prepared for what happened next.
As we flew over, suddenly, the sun began reflecting off the tops of thousands of brass markers in quick-fire succession. It was a thousand flashes of light exploding before my eyes, Bam! Bam! Bam! And as the plane tilted, each marker – it just ignited with a flash as bright as a diamond. And as fast as it happened, it was all over. My eyes were still dazzled; I was still seeing spots when our plane touched down. It happened so fast, as if in a twinkling of an eye. There I was looking out the window earlier, enjoying the clouds, dreaming about heaven, and the Lord opened the eyes of my heart to glimpse a bit of heaven's glory. For I got a bird's-eye view of 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 where, "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
You know, a lot of people would insist that all Francie and I saw was the sun reflecting at a 45-degree angle off of cemetery grave markers. But we knew it was more, much more than that. We saw a preview of the resurrection. That incident happened many years ago, but Francie and I recall that stunning scene as fresh and vivid as if it were yesterday. Psalm 72:19 says, “Blessed be his glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen.” Oh, friend, the whole earth is filled with his glory. We just need to ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so we can see it, because our God is an intentional God, brimming over with purpose, and infusing meaning into everything around us. He has sprinkled earth with calling cards of his presence and purpose. He has strewn across the earth thousands and thousands of reminders of his glory and greatness whether in parking lots, airport terminals, or even in cemeteries.
Moses once prayed to the Lord, "Show me your glory." Well, you also can pray that prayer. But be prepared. Be on guard. Open your eyes. Be ready to catch those glimpses at the most unusual times in the most unusual places. In fact, let me pray that God will do that for you right now – “Lord, as the hymn writer once wrote, you ‘shine in all that's fair.’ So thank you for the little flashes, the brief glances out the corner of our eyes of that which will one day fill the earth. And please open the eyes of the heart of my friends listening so that they will see the wonders of heaven in the most down-to-earth places. And as they glimpse your glory, put it in their hearts to thank you, to bless you that you have given them eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to feel, and minds to embrace the wonders of the Savior. It’s in his name we pray. Amen.”
© Joni and Friends