⁹… the glory of His power ¹⁰when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

From the start, our Christian movement has been driven by testimony (Greek “martyrion”), the report of what people have come to know. It began with the twelve apostles to whom our resurrected Lord declared, “You shall be my witnesses …” (Greek “martys”). The two related words lead us to see that the message is embodied in the messengers. The transliteration of the Greek word came to be associated with those whose testimony led to their execution. Martyrs are those who so believe the message to which they give testimony that they are willing to die for the truth of that message.

Associated with that testimony is the glory of God’s power. The earliest Christians, those who had walked with our Lord, had seen His supernatural works, the signs that proved He was the Son of God. In fact, they saw the greatest miracle, the sign of the resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4, see also Heb. 2:3–4). This power of God is described with the word “glory.” While this word normally carries the idea of brightness, splendor, and radiance, we understand the sense here to mean that the power of God clearly shows his character; it points unambiguously to the reality and work of God. This will be further made clear when Christ returns, and we will see even more unmistakably the glorified Son of God.

If, in fact, God made us in His image (Gen. 1:26), then He is most glorified when we reflect back to Him that image so that when He looks at us, it will be like Him looking in a mirror. That will happen upon His return:

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2–3).

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:18).

What a marvelous day that will be, in the words of the songwriter, “when we look into His face, the One who saved me by His grace.” Glory will be completed. That is the testimony of faith to which the twelve apostles and Paul gave witness, that the Thessalonians believed, and that we also believe.

Lord, I am anxiously awaiting the great day of glory when You return!