When I first saw these berries, I remarked to the Lord that they are like many Christians I know. So much potential and yet frozen over. Two days later, I couldn’t stop thinking about this photo.  Then the Lord dropped his interpretation and (surprise!)  it was very different from mine.  He simply said, “The wait of glory.”

It’s not a spelling error. The wait of glory.

As I mull on this notion, my spiritual synapses ignite like firecrackers. Wait on God. Wait on glory. Believe in His glory. In me? Ah yes, the scripture, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” But hope?  What am I hoping in? No, who am I hoping in? He is our hope. Dan-n-n-ng.

Whether we like it or not, there is a “waiting” in the life with Jesus. And it is holy ground. How will we respond?

Think of Moses as he took off his shoes.  Why did God ask him do that? To remind Moses that he came from dust? To remove any barrier that existed between the man and his God? God was up to something greater than Moses could have ever expected.

“Oh, Moses, I shall be with you when you go to the king of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not listen. So I will stretch forth my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders! Take the staff in your hand, Moses. With it, you shall do my wonders.” *

Heaven was in his midst. How would he respond? When God declared all the wonders He would perform  through him in Egypt, it required faith in action and faith in waiting.  What was rolling around inside Moses’s head on that long journey to Egypt? Did he waver in unbelief? Did he replay, over and over again, the burning bush, the voice of God, the power of His presence? What did he do during the wait of glory to be revealed?

Certainly these berries will not long be frozen.  As the sun rises on them, their icy cocoons will melt away so that they will become all they are destined to become. It’s in their DNA.

The same is true for us. Part of the mystery and the beauty of living with Christ is how he fashions us, breaks off and deposits in us all that is required to fit us for heaven. Not just heaven “when the roll is called up yonder.” But Heaven now.

He is actively, purposefully building our faith, hope, and love. Why? So that we might carry the weight of His glory and be ready for all the wonders that God will do through us. Glory is being revealed and we are part of the equation. How will we respond?

 

*Quote from Prince of Egypt that paraphrases verses from Exodus 3 and 4.