Growing Up in Glory

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

Praying silouette

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12, NIV).

There’s yet more in my heart to share with you about beholding the glory of the Lord. We find in this verse the symbolism of a mirror. In both passages, Holy Spirit communicates to us that, here on earth, seeing God is akin to observing the image in a looking glass. It’s a reflection of His glory, as opposed to the unspeakably glorious face to face experience we will have in Heaven.

Armed with that understanding, let’s look yet again at 2 Corinthians 3:18. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (NKJV).

It is true that what we see of God is not yet the full degree of His glory. However, He intends to encourage us with the revelation that every single day, He is moving us forward into greater degrees of spiritual sight. Every day, as we behold His glory, that glory is transforming us. Every day, the veil is removed further and further from our eyes.

“Now I know in part.” Right now, we each have received from Holy Spirit a certain level of revelation of the heart of God. We know Him in part. We are moving forward from glory to glory into increasing depths of revelation, increasing experiential knowledge of who He is.

This knowing God more and more is progressive in nature. Our growing intimacy with Him will culminate in the day that we come to “know fully,” beholding Him in the full manifestation of all of His majestic glory. Oh, how everything in me yearns to know Him fully!

Beholding Jesus’ glory in ever-increasing degrees is the way that we grow up in God. The preceding verse in 1 Corinthians 13 describes this process: “When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways” (v. 11, GNT).

Moving from being a youngster in spirit, to spiritual adulthood, is a direct result of seeing God with growing clarity. It comes from gazing daily on the beauty of the Lord. Maturity comes as I tire of childish ways and long for more of God. I no longer am satisfied with “knowing in part;” at least, not with the level of revelation knowledge that I have moved in up until now. I spend increasing amounts of time coming away just to be with Him.

Just as it takes many years for a small child to become an adult seasoned in the ways of life, this spiritual formation is entirely gradual. Wherever you are on your journey, be kind and patient with yourself. Give yourself generous permission to be “in process.” Daddy God delights in you, at each and every stage of your development. However, as you grow into increasing degrees of beholding Him, never stop crying out for more!

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord…” (Ps. 27:4, NKJV, bold emphasis mine).

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In what other ways is the symbol of the mirror a picture relevant to our spiritual lives?

19 thoughts on “Growing Up in Glory”

  2. Jennifer, I believe, for the follower of Christ there is more then one ” mirror ” in our lives. The manmade, that reflects that which the human eye can see, our reflection in ” water ” which God has created, that has a changing appearance, then, the true image that Spirit allows us to see – made in HIS IMAGE, that which is to be. When I looked this morning, into my mirror, I saw a man aging and very weak by nature, the enemy tried to say, you are DONE, give up! Spirit said, I have just BEGUN – walk this day in the image of Christ Jesus. Amen Len

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  3. What wonderful encouragement Jennifer. Thank you for sharing this.

    Yes the journey into maturity is one full of adventure and unexpected surprises as the Father brings us from children to adults. Our old immature desire now resting on the mantle like some old, worn out forgotten toy replaced by passion, fire and intimacy with our Beloved. Nothing can compare to this love. Though I loved Him as child once I only want Him in intimacy now. After feeding on the fruit of maturity I have been spoiled for anything less than ALL of Him.

    But as in all romance we must yet wait for the fulfillment. Though we can have a great deal now I long for the time when absolutely nothing can come between me and my Beloved.

    Blessings,
    Homer Les
    http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca

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  6. When we look in a mirror, we see someone beautifully and wonderfully made. We see someone whom God deemed necessary to place on this earth. There has never– ever– been someone in this world exactly like who we see in the mirror. We see someone special, and worthy of love. — Mike

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  9. Such truth: “Maturity comes as I tire of childish ways and long for more of God.” It’s that longing, that deep desire for God: to be more Christlike that grows within us — grows into a passion to serve God. I praise God that he is patient with us as we stumble in pursuit of Him.

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