This episode fundamentally describes all of redeemed mankind's purpose, in light of the end of creation and the heavenly hosts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has placed eternity in the heart of man so that God's works cannot be known from beginning to end. Man is called to uncover God's works and give Him glory, and this is precisely what we will be doing for all eternity. The angels are presently declaring that the whole earth is full of God's glory. The created order is full of God's glory, and that order of beings with the capacity to perceive and honor that glory are doing just that. This larger narrative, of course, highlights the one creature that seems oblivious to the glory of God, fallen man, who has exchanged God's glory for an idolatrous image (Rom. 3:23). The purpose of salvation should be seen through this narrative, that God would remake mankind for the purposes of glorifying God as he uncovers God and His works for all eternity, giving Him glory. The redemption of the created order should also be see through this glory narrative, which is presently groaning "for the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Rom. 8:21) Both creation and mankind's hope rests completely on the work of "the king of glory," the Lord Jesus Christ. "Lift up your heads, O gates..that the King of glory may come in!" (Psalm 24:9)
“Tap in to God’s Glory Narrative”
"With all this talk about God's glory, why do we see so little of it now?" This episode answers that question and invites believers to tap into God's glory narrative. The angels remark that the whole earth is full of God's glory, but fallen mankind, consumed with self-centered desires exchanges the glory of God for images, and big surprise, sees very little of God's glory. In salvation, the moral image of God in man is being restored, and his capacity to perceive God's glory is enlarged. This episode calls believers to ponder the glory of God just in the created order, beginning with reflecting on our own creation ("fearfully and wonderfully made") and marveling at the entire universe. Holistic salvation means we can dump the near-sighted, self-centered lens of distorted fallen humanity and embrace our renewed capacity to behold God's glory through Christ. And, if that weren't enough, we ourselves partake of that glory and are transformed from glory to glory.
Naturalism: is it blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
Modern-day naturalism, where it approaches willful rejection of the incontrovertible truth of God in creation, is tantamount to the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Romans 1 concluded 2000 years ago that rejection of the knowledge of God in creation is inexcusable. With the exponential increase in scientific knowledge, the evidence of God in creation has exponentially multiplied, making modern man even more accountable. Might naturalism be the modern-day version of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?