We have spent many chapters tearing down illusions—false beliefs that every tragedy, every failure, and every mess somehow glorifies God. But if not all chaos glorifies Him, then what does? What kind of life, what kind of society, what kind of choices bring true glory? The answer is simple, but it is not easy: God is glorified by uprightness.
God is glorified when a young man says no to crime and chooses honesty, even when it costs him. He is glorified when a woman refuses shortcuts and decides to build her success through hard work. He is glorified when parents raise their children with love and discipline, not violence and neglect. He is glorified when a husband and wife choose faithfulness over selfishness. He is glorified when a nation values justice more than wealth, and when leaders protect the weak instead of exploiting them.
Chaos does not glorify God—order does. Laziness does not glorify God—diligence does. Corruption does not glorify God—justice does. Neglect does not glorify God—responsibility does. It is not the disasters of human stupidity that reveal His greatness; it is the beauty of human uprightness, the discipline of wise choices, and the courage of honest living.
We must stop confusing tragedy with testimony. A man who ruins his life with alcohol and later sobers up is not a hero of faith—he is a survivor of his own mistakes. The greater glory is in the man who never touched alcohol, who lived uprightly from the start, and who built a life that others can look at with pride. Prevention is more glorious than recovery. Uprightness is more beautiful than repair.
But we live in a world addicted to drama. People prefer stories of brokenness turned into healing rather than stories of steady faithfulness. We clap for the criminal who finds redemption, but ignore the young man who never stole in the first place. We celebrate the addict who recovers, but forget to honor the one who never touched drugs. Yet both are important—and the second often glorifies God even more, because he chose uprightness before chaos had a chance to destroy him.
This is not to say that God cannot redeem mistakes. He can. And He does. But redemption is not the same as glory. Redemption is His mercy; glory is the fruit of our obedience. To confuse the two is dangerous. It makes people believe they can live recklessly, and God will still be glorified in the end. That is a lie.
So what truly glorifies God? Uprightness in the small, everyday things. The student who studies instead of cheating. The worker who refuses to take bribes. The driver who obeys traffic rules even when no one is watching. The citizen who votes with conscience, not with greed. These small acts, multiplied across a family, a community, a nation—these are the things that glorify God.
True glory shines in responsibility. When people admit their mistakes, change their ways, and live with discipline, God’s name is lifted higher than any empty excuse could ever do. True glory shines in justice. When the poor are defended, when the weak are protected, when the voiceless are heard, God is honored. True glory shines in love. When people choose kindness over cruelty, forgiveness over revenge, and sacrifice over selfishness, they reflect the heart of God more clearly than any sermon.
The world does not need more excuses; it needs more examples. Excuses keep us trapped in cycles of failure. Examples show us the power of uprightness. You cannot glorify God by destroying your life and then blaming Him for it. You glorify Him by living wisely, making upright choices, and leaving behind a legacy of truth and justice.
So let us end the lie. Not all things glorify God. Only those things that reflect His character—truth, justice, discipline, love, and uprightness—bring Him honor. Everything else is noise, chaos, and shame. If you want your life to glorify God, do not wait for tragedy to strike. Start now. Live wisely. Choose uprightness. And let your choices speak for you.
God is glorified when a young man says no to crime and chooses honesty, even when it costs him. He is glorified when a woman refuses shortcuts and decides to build her success through hard work. He is glorified when parents raise their children with love and discipline, not violence and neglect. He is glorified when a husband and wife choose faithfulness over selfishness. He is glorified when a nation values justice more than wealth, and when leaders protect the weak instead of exploiting them.
Chaos does not glorify God—order does. Laziness does not glorify God—diligence does. Corruption does not glorify God—justice does. Neglect does not glorify God—responsibility does. It is not the disasters of human stupidity that reveal His greatness; it is the beauty of human uprightness, the discipline of wise choices, and the courage of honest living.
We must stop confusing tragedy with testimony. A man who ruins his life with alcohol and later sobers up is not a hero of faith—he is a survivor of his own mistakes. The greater glory is in the man who never touched alcohol, who lived uprightly from the start, and who built a life that others can look at with pride. Prevention is more glorious than recovery. Uprightness is more beautiful than repair.
But we live in a world addicted to drama. People prefer stories of brokenness turned into healing rather than stories of steady faithfulness. We clap for the criminal who finds redemption, but ignore the young man who never stole in the first place. We celebrate the addict who recovers, but forget to honor the one who never touched drugs. Yet both are important—and the second often glorifies God even more, because he chose uprightness before chaos had a chance to destroy him.
This is not to say that God cannot redeem mistakes. He can. And He does. But redemption is not the same as glory. Redemption is His mercy; glory is the fruit of our obedience. To confuse the two is dangerous. It makes people believe they can live recklessly, and God will still be glorified in the end. That is a lie.
So what truly glorifies God? Uprightness in the small, everyday things. The student who studies instead of cheating. The worker who refuses to take bribes. The driver who obeys traffic rules even when no one is watching. The citizen who votes with conscience, not with greed. These small acts, multiplied across a family, a community, a nation—these are the things that glorify God.
True glory shines in responsibility. When people admit their mistakes, change their ways, and live with discipline, God’s name is lifted higher than any empty excuse could ever do. True glory shines in justice. When the poor are defended, when the weak are protected, when the voiceless are heard, God is honored. True glory shines in love. When people choose kindness over cruelty, forgiveness over revenge, and sacrifice over selfishness, they reflect the heart of God more clearly than any sermon.
The world does not need more excuses; it needs more examples. Excuses keep us trapped in cycles of failure. Examples show us the power of uprightness. You cannot glorify God by destroying your life and then blaming Him for it. You glorify Him by living wisely, making upright choices, and leaving behind a legacy of truth and justice.
So let us end the lie. Not all things glorify God. Only those things that reflect His character—truth, justice, discipline, love, and uprightness—bring Him honor. Everything else is noise, chaos, and shame. If you want your life to glorify God, do not wait for tragedy to strike. Start now. Live wisely. Choose uprightness. And let your choices speak for you.
