GLORIA!

Last weekend was the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, at Birmingham, AL, on the campus of Beeson Divinity School (Samford University). Most of our plenary meetings were held in the fabulous chapel at Beeson. Quite a sight, this building—the Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel. At the center of the chancel under the 90-foot dome is a bronze plaque on the floor: “This hallowed place is consecrated to the spiritual and intellectual preparation of men and women who will minister in Jesus’ Name to all peoples to the ends of the earth until the end of time.” For the glory of God!

The chapel is a remarkable specimen of Colonial/Gregorian architecture with semi-classical overtones, modeled after the Il Redentore (The Redeemer) chapel in Venice (the work of Andrea Palladio, 1508–1580). Hodges Chapel’s cross shape maintains an enduring and powerful, though silent, witness to our Lord Jesus Christ, supplemented by another equally eloquent testimony—the cross on the top of the organ casing (organ by Orgues Létourneau). And the organ casing, in addition to bearing Bach’s monogram, also proudly displays in gold letters, below the cross, the words: Soli Deo Gloria! To God alone be the glory!

Glory—that’s what God is about. That’s why He’s done all that He has; that’s why He’s doing all that He is; that’s why He will do all that He’s promised.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
and unfathomable His ways!
For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33, 36

All of creation exists to glorify Him.

“Everyone who is called by My name,
and whom I have created for My glory,
whom I have formed,
even whom I have made.”
Isaiah 43:7

Everything in the universe is moving towards God’s glorification. Everything and everybody.

… at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow,
of those who are in heaven
and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10–11

This is the end, the goal, the terminus, the Omega of all creation—the glory of God.

And He rightly demands glory, for He alone rightly deserves it.

Ascribe to the LORD,
O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD
the glory due to His name;
worship the LORD in holy array.
Psalm 29:1–2

That verse demarcates our role in all God’s glorification, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism (1648) agrees, acknowledging that only in glorifying God are we humans fulfilled:
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

So whether you eat or drink
or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

That is what we were called for—to glorify Him, to bear witness to His pre-eminence in all things and over all things.

But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God’s own possession,
so that you may proclaim
the excellencies of Him
who has called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

Not for my glory, am I to live. Not for my exaltation, do I draw my breath. Not for my praise, does my heart beat. But for God’s.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to Your name give glory ….
Psalm 115:1

Soli Deo Gloria!