The Glory of the Extra Mile

The people who organized last summer's Lakeshore Marathon in Chicago made a terrible mistake. They inadvertently set up the course one mile too long, and didn't discover their mistake until after the race was over. Instead of the usual 26.2 miles, the runners had to go 27.2 miles. A regular marathon is hard enough, but it's really rough when you have to run an extra mile.

Of course, you may be one of those "extra mile" people. Jesus said to go the extra mile, and you've been doing it. You've been running for a long time in the Christian life, and just when the hard part is almost over, there's another mile to run.

Have you ever had an honest conversation with God when you felt like saying, "Here am I, but don't send me"? Have you ever thought, "I can't run any more miles"?

Then you can relate to Moses.

When Moses answered God's call he was criticized, over-worked, and under-appreciated. He toiled from morning till night, listening to people complain about their problems. He didn't have much help until his father-in-law Jethro advised him to appoint others to share the load. (And who wants to admit your father-in-law was right?) By the time Moses brought the Ten Commandments down from the mountain, the people already were breaking them, partying around a golden calf.

Seeking reassurance, Moses told the Lord, "Now show me your glory" (Exodus 33:18). This is a dangerous request—to see the raw, unfiltered glory of God. Plus, Moses already had seen more of God's glory than most of us can imagine: the 10 plagues, the parted waters of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. Moses felt Mount Sinai tremble, engulfed by fire and smoke from the presence of God, but he still wanted more.

So the Lord put Moses in the cleft of the rock where he could see God's "back" as the Lord's glory passed by. There's always more to the Lord than we can take in. Glimpsing God's back was like seeing the afterglow of the sun after it sets—like determining the size of a big ship by the wake it leaves behind.

"Then the Lord . . . passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation'" (Exodus 34:5-7).

This glimpse of God answers some questions and raises others. How can the Lord be holy and ready to punish, while he also is compassionate and faithful? How can he be so fearful and awe-inspiring, and at the same time so approachable, so fatherly, so full of grace? And how can you and I behold his glory?

I can't fathom the full glory of God, but I can catch glimpses of it in Scripture and in answered prayer. I can see his glory when I'm hiking in the mountains, and when my three-year-old granddaughter hugs me and says, "I love you, Papa." I can see it in the way my aging father suffers with dignity and faith.

I see God's glory in the smiling face of a new Christian rising from baptism all wet and clean. I see it at the Communion table in a tiny piece of bread and a cup of grape juice. I hear it when the congregation sings "Because He Lives" on Easter morning.

I hear about God's glory in the news about persecuted churches in nations where brave believers risk their lives to profess their faith. I see God's glory in small country churches where Christians sing "How Great Thou Art," and in new churches springing up in schools, theatres, and community centers.

I see God's glory in families where moms and dads love each other and pray with their kids at night. I see it on college campuses where young adults say "yes" to servanthood and "no" to skepticism and sin. I can even see God's glory at a funeral where death gives way to victory.

In the fullness of time, someone far greater than Moses arrived on the scene. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). One day Jesus took three of his disciples and went up on a mountain where he was transfigured in front of them. "His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them" (Mark 9:3). "His face shone like the sun" (Matthew 17:2). Elijah the great prophet appeared there talking with Jesus; and with him was Moses, the great lawgiver. Moses had prayed, "Show me your glory," and now he stood there on the mountain engulfed by the glory of the Son of God.

Today we must go the extra mile. But when the journey is over, every step will have been worthwhile. We'll see more than a glimpse of God's glory then.

We won't just see his back. We will see his face.