Question for you. What does the White City and your life have in common? Of course, you’ll remember the White City is straight out of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Interestingly, between the White City and another city, Osgiliath, there’s a lot in common with your life. Let’s look.
The White City And Your Life
J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is a classic. Plus, the movies remain so popular!
Many cities in Middle Earth are glorious. Minas Tirith – the White City – is a magnificent city with citadels, strong towers, flags, and fortified walls. Its semi-circle, layered architecture rises upward against the side of a mountain with walls, columns, and dwelling places.
The White City is a glorious city! It is a place for royalty: kings and queens – and citizens.
For comparison, the glory of the White City hints of your life – the way God designed you. With glory. Unfortunately, you live in a fallen world. Even the most glorious places eventually wear down over time and must be repaired. So true of life.
Essentially, your life is a glorious dwelling straight out of God’s wisdom. He wants you alive and active on earth – right now. God has His own amazing reasons.
In other words, your life is glorious by God’s design.
Osgiliath And Your Life
Remember Osgiliath. Another glorious city is broken and almost destroyed. Interestingly, even in ruins, its glory is unquestioned. Osgiliath still boasts of citadels, strong towers, flags, and fortified walls. Incidentally, this city borders a river with a harbor and arching bridgework across a main wall. Magnificent statues boast of former glory. Its ruins do not diminish its wonders.
It, too, is a glorious city! A place for royalty: kings and queens – and citizens.
Equally, you could say the glory of Osgiliath hints of your life. It tells the story of what was intended – and what could still be. Unfortunately, war-torn and in disarray, it looks very tired.
- Can you identify with any of this?
- Perhaps you long for glory you might have had if circumstances had been different?
- Perhaps you feel your life history is war-torn.
- Do you see habits and patterns that have left you in disarray?
- Are you tired of working to make the best of your life?
Your glorious life is affected by sin and death. However, this does not limit nor define who you are in Christ.
Glory And Former Glory
God talks a lot about glory – and former glory.
Scripture uses the word “glory” often. God’s heart is strongly committed to the glory of all He made. Consider how He refers to –
- Creation. God’s heart is tender toward all He created.
- His glorious city. Jerusalem is a tender place in His heart.
- God’s glorious people are even more tender to His heart. In fact, they are like a city – people with great glory.
BUT – Something Happened
The creation story portrays God’s tender relationship with humanity. Amazingly, in the beginning, God speaks all things into existence. Remarkably, however, God gets into the dirt with His own hands. He forms people. Then He breathes His own breath into them and brings them to life in a likeness of His own image. A deep, rich kind of glory.
Then comes the fall. The fall of a glorious city is a terrible event. Cannon balls smashing road-thick walls, crushing artful columns and buildings, utterly smashing glorious spires. Demolition leaves a person sad, even angry.
Similarly, seeing enemy weapons smash foundations of people’s lives, crush their hearts, utterly destroy their glory and beauty with sin and brokenness – is terrible! Devastation leaves a person sad, angry, and even desperate.
Hope Prevails
The Psalmist describes man’s glory in Ps. 8. Interestingly, this is after the fall. David still sees God’s glory in the ruins of people’s lives. Further, God paints humanity as rulers, crowned with glory and honor. He says all things are under their feet. God decrees royalty: kings and queens – citizens.
God forms glory into all people.
- Upright.
- Majestic.
- Powerful.
- Beautiful.
- Intricate design.
- High-level functioning.
- A little lower than angels.
- Full of light and holy innocence.
- Pure.
However, light dims after the fall. Glory diminishes. Power tempts and squanders. Still, some glory lingers. The family resemblance with God – the High King of all nations who creates everything out of nothing – proves humanity is made in His image.
Your Life – Like Osgiliath
People are clay pots – broken, cracked, with holes, scattered shards. They are fragile and easily overcome. No longer shining like polished gold. Additionally, they are easily overlooked and kicked to the side. Stepped on.
Jesus loves these clay pots! He died for them. Anyone who believes on Him, gains His glory as their own. His glory shines through the cracks of their pots. In a broken state, they radiate with God’s life peeking through holes and pushing through cracks and crevices. God blesses them with purpose. Plus, He deeply loves them.
CONCLUSION: God’s light shines through your broken condition and points back to His glory. Embrace your beauty. It radiates from the Spirit of God that dwells in your clay vessel.
Thoughts About The White City And Your Life
God’s glory and presence is enhanced as He shines through you. This is true in every trial, persecution, mistreatment, and weakness you bear.
In fact, God’s glory is intensified as it shines through cracks of broken pieces of your history. His light makes you remarkably beautiful again. Plus, His presence draws attention to His own glory shining – rather than to your cracks. God rebuilds your life to be like the White City – even in your sufferings.
Undeserved Grace
The Term
Under all this is something called – undeserved Grace! What is this? How does it affect the story of glory?
The Definition
Let’s define “undeserved grace” using God’s Word.
- Bestow glory to what was completely broken and in ruin from sin.
- Hope to be perfected once again – forever.
- Deep love of God that sent Jesus to the cross.
- Unexpected, undeserved, un-earnable blessing showered on you.
- In other words, God chooses you even in your brokenness.
Essentially, God intends to restore the glory of your original design. Listen to His own words. ” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ “ (Jer. 29:11)
Incredibly, God wants to restore your glory. Listen to God’s tender heart toward you from that Scripture.
- First, He has plans for you.
- Plus, He wants to prosper you.
- Further, He does NOT intend to harm you.
- Additionally, He gives you hope.
- Finally, He provides a glorious future for you.
Your Life
Interestingly, Scripture correlates your life with a clay pot! What are clay pots for?
- Service.
- Practical purposes.
- Beauty.
You are a clay pot.
2 Cor. 4:7-9 says, “We have this treasure in jars of clay . . . We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
You are hard-pressed on every side in life. However, God promises you hope and a future. He promises to prosper you because Christ’s life ignites your center with light. It is an incredible blessing to be made perfect again! A new White City.
Contrarily, your “less-than-glorious” condition links you to the death of Jesus. He became a clay pot to restore man’s glory through His own, perfect vessel. He shares His glory with every pot who welcomes His Lordship. Just like a restored and rebuilt city, Jesus makes everything new again. (Rev. 21:5)
Application Thoughts And Questions
- Do you see yourself as glorious like the White City?
- Do you ever identify with Osgiliath – broken and in ruins?
- Perhaps you long for glory you might have had if circumstances had been different.
- Do you feel your life history is war-torn?
- What habits and patterns have left you in disarray?
- Are you tired of working to make the best of your life with ruin all around you?
- Why not welcome restored glory through Christ? His glory shines through your cracks and crevices.
- Do you accept the plans God has for you? Remember:
- First, He has plans for you.
- Plus, He wants to prosper you.
- Further, He does NOT intend to harm you.
- Additionally, He gives you hope.
- Finally, He provides a glorious future for you.
- How can you present your testimony – the light you bear in your clay vessel – to others around you?
- How will you ensure Jesus gets glory for His light shining in and through you?
* Portions of this content come from our book – e-Pistles For An i-Generation: Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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