I have a short idea today. Something that's been on my heart for a while. This idea comes out of Exodus 40:34:
"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
The verses in this chapter leading up to this point was God giving detailed instructions to Moses on how to build the tabernacle. It was built out of precious metals, assembled with holy relics, and meticulously erected, down to every last detail that God had commanded. Anyone else wishing to enter must be consecrated and be made priests. It was a very serious place, to say the least.
However. Even though the tabernacle was filled with the holiest of relics and assembled with the utmost care, there was something missing even after Moses had did everything God had asked of him. It was God's Glory. The Tabernacle was not completed until the very presence of the Most High came into the holy place.
We too, are not complete, until the glory of the Lord enters into us.
In the grand scheme of things, what actually matters if we are doing things without God? We can be the most successful person in the world, with all the fame and fortune we desire, but if God is not in our life, then it is simply a vain pursuit. You can't bring money or fame with you in the grave. Money eventually perishes. Fame is fleeting. But the Glory of the Lord stands forever.
Our sole purpose on this earth is to bring glory to the one who created us. We can do this in a number of ways. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." As long as we live, we should live to bring glory to God. We can literally bring glory to God by anything we do on this earth, and bringing glory to God is more valuable than whatever else we can achieve in our life.
We are vessels of glory, tasked with the mission of amplifying God's majesty. Our lives are not complete without Him. Much like the Tabernacle, we can have all the most precious metals, have the best appearances, and live a holy life, but without the Glory of the Lord, we are incomplete.
"The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters."
-Psalm 29:3
