Deeper Glory
Introduction
Praying with a brother on Tuesday last week I noticed the colours of the spectrum reflected in the bottom of a mirror. Biblically, this has many rich associations: the promise of a new creation (Gen 9:12-17; Rev 4:3; 21:18-23), fatherly favour (Gen 37:3), and “the wisdom of God in its rich variety” displayed to the demonic powers in the heavenlies (Eph 3:10). It was what happened after this that set me to much deeper praying. Though I have written much on the River of God (http://cross-connect.net.au/the-river-of-god-and-the-healing-of-the-nations/) the Spirit showed me something I had never even heard of before. I saw a river running composed of all the spectral/rainbow colours of God. This article summarises what I have been discerning from the Lord about the meaning of this beautiful insight.
Creation in the Glory of God as Trinity
The multi-coloured river primarily symbolises the dynamic eternal being of God unfolding for the sake of his creation. In the beginning, the going forth of the Spirit and the Word (Gen 1:1-3) created space-time as a place where creatures could grow in fulfilling the holy purposes of their Father. For all other living things this is to bring forth “after their kind” (Gen 1:11, 12, 21, 25). But the fruitfulness of those created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-28) is of a radically different order. Made intimately by Word and Spirit (Gen 1:26; 2:7) humans alone possess the capacity for endless growth in the visible image of the invisible God, Christ Jesus (Rom 5:14; Col 1:15). To live faithful to this call is the meaning of eternal life. Adam and Eve were unique “sub-creators”, with a divine destiny to expand in obedient faith (Rom 1:5) from their hearts bringing the glory of God into every aspect of global existence (Hab 2:14). To fulfill God’s purpose, they needed however to abide in the dynamic of the living glory of the Lord.
Losing the Dynamic of Creation
From the beginning, the power of darkness has sought to deceive humanity (Luke 22:53). As a fallen creature, Satan is driven to replicate his image in humanity (Matt 13:38; Eph 2:2; 1 John 3:12) for he longs to dominate the earthly sphere with his own evil likeness (Col 1:13). His negation of the Word of the Lord, “Did God actually say, You shall not…You will not…You will become…” (Gen 3:1-5), successfully turned the hearts of the first pair from trust in the infallible Word to trust in/on their own capacities. This was original sin. Generations later a model father warns his beloved son, “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov 4:1, 23). Having once lost the dynamic of the energy of the power of the Spirit-Word, i.e., the River of God, humanity is nevertheless not abandoned. Our faithful Creator bears Eden-like testimony to us all, by “doing good…giving rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”” (Acts 14:17). The Father’s ever-fruitful eternal power and nature (Rom 1:20) is unavoidable in a world created to be a theatre of his glory (Calvin). Whilst the River is always flowing, sinners have “forsaken the LORD…the fountain of living water” (Jer 17:13 Cf. Isa 5:13; Amos 8:11) “dig out cisterns for themselves”, even if “they hold no water” (Jer 2:13). The pangs of hell have begun in a race which dissipates its energies in empty pursuits without any prospect of permanent fruition.
Jesus Recreates the Dynamic of Life
As the Man saturated in Word and Spirit to the glory of God the Father Jesus restores all that was lost in Eden (and much more). He is “the Word become flesh” who “gives the Spirit without limit” (John 3:34 cf. Acts 2:33). Through, Jesus the River in all its colours flows out to the world bringing peace, radical newness, divine wisdom and “life in its fullness” (John 10:10). His testimony, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9) means that in the Son the unlimited fruitfulness of the Father is now being revealed (Rom 11:33; 1 Cor 8:6; Heb 2:10). Jesus knew for sure that the glory and love in which he always resided in the Holy, Righteous Father would be made known to the world through us (John 17). But how?
The Glory has Departed
The Lord prophesied of a day when the River of glory would course through regenerated hearts with new energy, ““If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, bas6 the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39). In John, Jesus is glorified through suffering (12:24-33). Paradoxically, to empty sinners of their ceaseless self-concerns “the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:8) must become “Ichabod” = “the Glory has departed” through his hour of dereliction (1 Sam 4:21; Mark 15:34) Jesus’ final words are pregnant with prophetic depth, “knowing that all was now finished, (he) said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”” (John 19:28-29). In bearing our total deprivation from the River’s bearing of the life of God Jesus must thirst like no lost person ever thirsted before, because form eternity only God had been his sole supply! His voluntary spiritual impoverishment atones for our sinful sloth (2 Cor 9:8), opens the gate of glory and releases the rivers of living water. PTL!
A Restored Church
Who today longs, indeed pants (Ps 42:2), for God’s holy presence which can only come in heaven outpoured revival? What can we give to see the River of Life outpoured in its many-coloured glory? Or are you already satisfied with less than the fulness of the Lord? (Surely episodic insights into the Lord are inadequate manifestations of the true divine nature to which we are called (2 Pet 1:34).) It is right and proper that the “Blessed Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”, who “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3) should see manifestations of these blessings constantly in the Bride of Christ. Surely the blood of the cross demands it and the power of the Spirit would enable it!
Conclusion
An aged saint, the famous preacher John Chrysostom (golden-mouthed), persecuted, harassed and driven to the point of death said with his final breath, “Glory be to God for all things.” These were prophetic words inspired by the Spirit of Jesus. They bore a testimony (Rev 19:10) to the “two hands” of God the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit, ceaselessly and in all things working to create spaces to be filled with glory of the Lord. The mystery that “in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself” (2 Cor 5:1), means the Day is coming when we will fully know (1 Cor 13:12) what it means, to ‘live and move and have our being” in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Acts 17:28). This is the unlimited fruitfulness of the gospel (Col 1:5-6). “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom 11:36). Let us pray for the revealing and release of the River of many colours amongst us.