I was up early one morning recently and I was reminded of a question I asked the Holy Spirit 30 some years ago. I was driving along in north Edmonton and paused for a pedestrian crossing the street. To paint a picture of this man I would describe his appearance as one of a street person, down on his luck with possible mental issues. In my own thoughts, my own mind, with no malice, I voiced this honest, simple question: “God, why do you create people like that?”

Immediately the Holy Spirit said, “For My glory.”

That answer has stuck with me for over 30 years.

I often think, “What is ‘glorious’ about a smelly, troubled, afflicted, depressed bum? (Imagine all the people that you have seen in your life that fits this kind of description. Does it make you feel like they ooze “Glory”?)

Truthfully, being smelly, sweaty, bad-breathed and matted hair, is NOT glorious. Being troubled and afflicted in NOT glorious. Being depressed, addicted, out of the right mind in NOT glorious. This does not make sense. Glorious is triumphant, successful, in the right mind, confident and strong.

So what does, “For My Glory” mean?

We were ALL created to express and reflect the Glory of God. The creation reveals the Creator. Even when the effects of sin try to bury it and cover it up, this glory is there, waiting to be risen from the dead. The glory of God can still shine through, like light through the cracks in a broken clay pot. God uses the weak, the rejected, the hidden, the seemly forgotten to reveal His Glory.

So let us look on those around us as God sees them. We were all created in the image of God. We all have value. We are all designed to reflect God and who He is. Thank you, God for your love and the blood of Jesus that cleanses us and raises us out from the deep, dark pit that hides who you created us to be.

Go out today and reflect the glory of God in your world.

Matthew Blacklock