GLORY, HONOR, AND IMMORTALITY

GLORY, HONOR, AND IMMORTALITY

Rom. 2:6-7 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

Paul had a profound, personal understanding of what heaven is like. He talked about being caught up to the third heaven and experiencing things that there were no words for. To him, heaven was way more than a philosophical concept or a vague hope of life beyond the grave. He had been there and longed for the day it would be his permanent home. He was often trying to find words which could carry a sense or taste of that eternal realm. In today’s short verse Paul fired off three powerful words painting a picture for us of things to come. Here is Albert Barnes’ take on this verse.

“Glory and honor and immortality – The three words used here, denote the happiness of the heavenly world. They vary somewhat in their meaning, and are each descriptive of something in heaven, that renders it an object of intense desire. The word ” glory” doxan denotes properly praise, celebrity, or anything distinguished for beauty, ornament, majesty, splendor, as of the sun, etc.; and then it is used to denote the highest happiness or felicity, as expressing everything that shall be splendid, rich, and grand. It denotes that there will be an absence of every thing mean, groveling, obscure. The word “honor” (‘time’ implies rather the idea of reward, or just retribution)- the honor and reward which shall be conferred in heaven on the friends of God. It stands opposed to contempt, poverty, and want among people. Here they are despised by people; there, they shall be honored by God.
Immortality – That which is not corruptible or subject to decay. It is applied to heaven as a state where there shall be no decay or death, in strong contrast with our present condition, where all things are corruptible, and soon vanish away. These expressions are undoubtedly descriptive of a state of things beyond the grave. They are never applied in the Scriptures to any condition of things on the earth.”

Paul was describing a place of joy, yet a different kind of joy than we know in this life. It is a holy joy captured by his word ‘glory’. He was also trying to communicate a place of priceless reward. In this life we are rewarded for our labors. For the Christian, Paul said the life to come is a place of honor and reward. Regardless of the price our Christianity has cost us in this life there will be no comparison to that sacrifice and the honor and reward in the world to come. Finally, he spoke about immortality. This is not just a life that lasts forever: after all, the sinners and the devils will live forever. This is life as God intended for it to be lived. It is not only eternal, it is filled with life itself. Glory, honor, and immortality!!! I can’t wait!!!!