THERE is not a more fleeting thing to be found than the glory of man; trace his history wherever you will and it will be found to bear striking witness to the testimony of Holy Scripture, that “All the glory of man is as the flower of the grass” (see 1 Peter 1:2424For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24)). How important it is that things should be seen as they really are, and estimated at their proper value; in order that a sober judgment may be formed as to them.
A soap bubble appears a thing of beauty in the eyes of a child, and may be coveted as something which, if only it can be possessed, will yield endless pleasure; but when the hand has grasped it, it bursts, leaving nothing but froth behind, and the child’s disappointment is in proportion to the expectations indulged in. Such is the glory of man!
“The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.” Did you ever hear of a high price being paid for such a fleeting and worthless thing as the flower of the grass? And yet how many thousands are ready to sacrifice everything; yea, sell their souls for that which is of no more worth. Reader, are you going to allow yourself to be ensnared by such an empty thing? “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The history of Nero, that inhuman Emperor, who danced while Rome burned, serves as a striking example of the worthlessness of human glory. The historian tells us that he began his reign with the general approbation of mankind, and for a brief period he governed in a way that left little to be desired, but soon he gave way to every evil habit, and as his years increased, so did his wicked deeds, until his rule became intolerable. His generals revolted, so did the army, and various plots were set on foot for his assassination; he became hated by everyone, and his most intimate friends forsook him. He even attempted to take his own life, but courage failed him, and then he turned to one of his faithful attendants and bade him dispatch him; this he refused to do, so that the Emperor, in despair, cried out, “Alas! have I neither friend nor enemy?” He next resolved to throw himself into the Tiber, but could not sum up courage enough to do so, and then he sought for some secret place, where he could nerve himself to meet death with becoming fortitude. After this, one of his freedmen offered him his country house, about four miles distant, and there, in disguise, he made his way; on every hand he heard confused sounds. The soldiers in the camp were imprecating a thousand evils on his head, and he heard a man shouting, “There go men in pursuit of Nero,” while another passing by asked him if there was any news of Nero in the city.
At last he reached the house, and had difficulty in gaining admission; he had not been there long when his enemies found him, and, fearing their vengeance, he put a dagger to his throat and inflicted a mortal wound. To a centurion (who finding him bleeding to death, attempted to stop the blood with his cloak) he exclaimed, “It is now too late”: and thus ended the short-lived glory of Nero, in the fourteenth year of his reign.
God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, “He will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.”
He is spoken of as “The God of glory” (Acts 7:22And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2)), and His grace which has appeared for all men, teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (See Titus 2:11-1311For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:11‑13).) This is glory worth going in for, it is the hope the Gospel gives. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-21Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2)). Is this the glory you are seeking after, dear reader? E. E. N.