Sacrifice, Fire, and Glory

“When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.” 2 Chron. 7:1-2.

The glory comes once the fire has consumed the sacrifice. The priests, however, could not enter into the glory of the Lord since they had not partaken of the fire. Notice that it was the glory of the Lord (Christ), the glory He shared with His Father before the world began. In order for this glory to be revealed to the people, the burnt offering and the sacrifice had to first be consumed by the fire.

Not even the priests—much less the people—dared to approach the glory, because their sacrifice—the body of sin—had not been consumed by the fire.

If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him. But if we draw back from suffering, the Lord’s soul has no pleasure in us. This pleasure is, in the deepest sense, the glory of the Lord. When a person has pleasure in another person, they pour out their glory over that person, and love awakens love in return.

When someone suffers with Christ, they prove their love for Him. “But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

Oh, how many priests there are today who have to remain outside of the glory of the Lord. They shrink back from allowing the fire to consume the sacrifice. All of us have something to sacrifice, and once that sacrifice is placed on the altar, God will not withhold the fire. Glory without personal sacrifice will never last long. We can hear messages about abundant glory, especially during times of revival, but this glory cannot be a person’s possession without them making a personal sacrifice. Otherwise, it is only the glory of grace, which God takes away from a person whenever He wills. Personal glory, on the other hand, is the glory acquired by righteousness, and it is received once the sacrifice has been consumed. This glory will never be taken away from us.

We are kings and priests for God. When the glory of the Lord fills the house, may we not be left standing outside, like the priests in the old covenant. We are His house, and it is impossible to be filled with His glory unless the fire has first consumed its sacrifice. However, there are many such sacrifices, so we have the opportunity to go from glory to glory.