John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
One of the greatest privileges and advancements of believers, both in this world and unto eternity, consists in their beholding the glory of Christ. This, therefore, He desires for them in this solemn intercession, as the complement of all His other requests in their behalf: “That they may behold my glory,” that they may see, or contemplate my glory. John Owen
It does not appear that people think of beholding the glory of Christ as one of the greatest privileges in this work and then unto all eternity. If they did, they would seek a sight of His glory. Moses is said to have considered “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt” (Heb 11:26). Moses then went on to cry out to God with His desire to behold His glory. The glory that Moses caught a glimpse of is that glory that believers are privileged to behold with greater light. Christ Himself is the glory of God shining forth in the new creation of God. Christ Himself is the very glory of the Church. Christ Himself is the very shining forth of the glory of God in the Gospel of God. We are told that God is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (II Cor 4:6).
People will go to great extents to see a particular sporting event, a movie star, or a politician. But the greatest privilege is to behold the glory of Christ. The most a football player can do is to catch, throw, or run a football for a short distance. The most a basketball player can do is to throw a ball through a hole. The most a baseball player can do is to throw a baseball, catch a baseball, or hit a baseball. But Christ upholds the entire universe by the word of His power. Christ has purchased the eternal souls of an entire people. Christ was the tabernacle of the glory of God and Christ is very God of very God. The athlete strives for records and money that last for a few years at the most, but Christ earned and won eternal salvation. There is nothing an athlete can do that can be compared to the glory of Christ.
What is it that movie stars and actors do? They pretend to be someone and act like someone. They play a part that someone has written and that another directs. But what are they really doing that is worthwhile? Christ did not just play a part, but He was and is involved in the greatest drama that can possibly happen for all time in all of creation. The drama of redemption was played out from the Garden of Eden until the cross as the Old Testament gave us little dramas and pictures of the coming Christ. Christ has accomplished salvation and it is an eternal salvation, while a television show may last a few years at most. Movies usually are not popular for very long at all.
What is it that politicians do? They make laws, they have political power, and they put on a show as they run for office. But how is the comparable to the Lord Jesus Christ who raises up and then blows down all politicians as He pleases? He has all power in the entire universe and He does as He pleases. What kind of power does the Lord Jesus Christ who is the King of kings have? The hearts of all kings are in His hand and He turns them as He pleases. Every breath of every king and ruler of all lands are in His hand and He can give it or take it as He pleases. What an absolutely glorious Lord is King Jesus!
Why are men so taken with the world rather than the Lord Jesus Christ? It is because they are blinded by the allure, apparent beauty, and false promises of the fake things of the world and so those things appear so much better than the eternal things which they are blinded to. The things that bring some sense of pleasure to the soul now appear better than words that appear to be only effective for eternity. It is hard to get a person to turn from present pleasures to seek the One that s/he hates (God) for eternal life which appears to be so distant and not all that great. When the scales are removed from the spiritual eyes of the soul, oh how ravishing Christ is to the soul. How delightful the things of eternity appear, but also how delightful holiness and love for Christ are in the present world. If only people would take time and effort to either behold or seek to behold the wonders of Christ perhaps the things of the world would appear dim and ignoble to them. The things that people spend so much time on would appear to be nothing but a waste of time when seen in the light of His beauty.
God Loves... Himself 
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