In ancient times, someone noticed that candles held up high extended the light further and made the room brighter. That observation led to an invention.
He (or she!) crisscrossed two small boards, fastened them together, hammered a spike through each of the four ends, and fixed a candle on each spike. Last he suspended the contraption from the rafters [1].
Perhaps something similar to this!
Voilà! The first chandelier was born.
Fast forward to the 1600s. Artisans began producing the first crystal chandeliers that reflected and refracted the light, creating more ambient light than candles alone, not to mention stunning beauty.
1600s rock crystal chandelier, from the Nethercutt Collection, Sylmar, CA
Some designers incorporated mirrors, increasing the luminosity even further.
Louis XIV of France famously ordered numerous chandeliers—forty-three of them—for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Thousands of crystals maximized the light of approximately twenty thousand candles, which was also reflected in the 357 pieces of mirrored glass [2].
A chandelier offers us a radiant picture of the kingdom of God with the crystals and mirrors representing us. Just as a chandelier glorifies a room with its resplendent light, so we’re called to glorify GOD by reflecting his resplendent light to those around us [3].
But how do we do that? Consider these possibilities:
We Glorify God by Trusting Him (Psalm 147:11)
It must warm God’s heart when his saints keep returning to him for strength and comfort during a difficult season. Such people, calmed by the profound and inexplicable peace of God, stand in beautiful contrast to the angry or anxious around them.
We Glorify God by Enjoying Him (Psalm 96:6-8)
That enjoyment will surely create a noticeable glow of contentment on our faces, as we delight in his mercy, goodness, compassion, and more.
We Glorify God by Letting Him Love Us (Romans 8:35-39)
“Do you want to glorify God? . . . Let him love you. Receive his grace, drink it down, without adding one drop of your own goodness to it. Your very purpose in life and eternity is to be ‘to the praise of his glorious grace‘” (Ephesians 1:5-6).
Dane C. Ortlund, In the Lord I Take Refuge, 381.
We may know God loves us, but how often do we rest in his warmth, contemplating his love-gifts throughout the day, like:
- a multi-hued sunrise
- the cheery song of a cardinal
- a friendly wave from a neighbor
- an uplifting word of encouragement
- the long-awaited rain pattering on the roof
- a sweet memory that suddenly comes to mind and makes you smile
This is just a short-list of possibilities. God continually expresses his love. Receive it—no, better yet, revel in it and glorify him for his lavish demonstrations and the grace behind each one.
We Glorify God by Living His Ways (Matthew 5:16)
Years ago a church member told me she’d recently been driving along the main street of our neighborhood and caught up with a car going the speed limit.
“Who goes the speed limit these days?” She laughed and then continued. “But to be honest, I began to get frustrated, because I was in a hurry to get home! And then the car turned down your street and I could see who was driving–your son!
“Imagine: a teenager going the speed limit! I just had to tell you: he’s a good driver, even when he thinks no one’s paying attention.”
E. honored us, his parents, that day, by choosing character over convenience. But better yet he honored God. Without even knowing, he reflected the light of Christ and His character to that church member.
Now imagine the dazzling light-display we can create corporately to glorify God–as we all trust him, enjoy him, let him love us, and live by his ways.
Surely we can even outshine those chandeliers in the Hall of Mirrors!
[1] https://chandelierrental.com/the-history-of-a-chandelier/
[2] https://artisanelevators.com/articles/palace-of-versailles/
[3] James 1:17; Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18
Image credits: http://www.flickr.com (2); http://www.pexels.com; http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.stockcake.com.
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