The glory of flesh

"And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  A voice says, “Cry out.”  And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”   Is 40:5-8 (NIV)

The glory of the Lord is contrasted here with the glory of men (flesh).  This passage alludes to the first coming of Jesus Christ where John the Baptist announces the arrival of the Messiah (Jn 1:23).  John the apostle also mentioned that they beheld the glory of Christ when He incarnated as the Son of Man (Jn 1:14).  He was full of grace and truth.  Whereas mankind has the propensity to display his inglorious attributes of vengence and deceit. 

For all the accomplishments that mankind has made, whether it is discovering a new drug to save lives or sending people into outer space, it cannot be compared to the infinite wisdom and knowledge that God Almighty has.  Mankind has only uncovered a very small proportion of what there's to know in this universe, not to mention those beyond us.  It is apt then that people should be compared to grass and flowers.  Fresh grass and flowers are lovely to touch and behold.  But their beauty lasts for only a short while.  This means that men would die one day and their works and accomplishments would soon be forgotten, no matter how much the current generation would want to immortalise certain individuals.  In contrast, God's word or Christ, the living Word, endures forever.  We ought to pay careful attention then to what God says to us in His written word, especially concerning end times.

Jesus mentioned that King Solomon, despite his pomp and pageantry, did not cloth himself like the lilies of the field (Mt 6:28-29).   King Solomon has passed on many generations ago.  He left behind the legacy of his wise sayings and that's about it.  Christ on the other hand, imputed His righteousness to all those who would draw near to Him in faith and imparted to them everlasting life.  Truly, the words that He speaks are spirit and life; flesh counts for nothing (Jn 6:63). 


If we ever want our words to be profitable, then begin to speak the life-giving words of God to others.  We can speak life through proclamation or prayer.  We proclaim by sharing the gospel and we pray by speaking healing and wholeness to the people.  God's glory is made manifest through salvation, healing and deliverance that take place.  However, man being flesh, will still die; but his eternal destiny is secured through the finished work of Christ at Calvary's cross.