Hosea 9:11 (ESV): “Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!”

This verse offers a striking scriptural parallel to the idea of a “concept car.” Concept cars are crafted by automakers to showcase innovative design and spark public desire. They generate excitement and admiration for the brand, yet they are never intended for actual production or real-world use. 

Man was never designed to manufacture or possess true glory on his own. Human “glory,” as the world defines it, is fleeting and bird-like—here today, gone tomorrow. Webster describes worldly glory as “praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent: worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving.”

In contrast, biblical glory (Hebrew kabod in the Old Testament context, and Greek doxa in the New) points to something far deeper. As Vine’s Expository Dictionary explains for doxa (from dokeo, “to seem”), it primarily signifies an opinion or estimate, and thus the honor resulting from a good opinion. Ultimately, it refers to the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation—what He essentially is and does, revealed in His character, power, and especially in Christ. 

Galatians 5:26 “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Humanity chases after vain, worldly glory—seeking praise, distinction, or self-manufactured honor—rather than God’s genuine glory. This misplaced desire echoes the very first commandment after the foundational one against other gods:

Exodus 20:4 — “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

Man does not create God, nor can we fabricate or steal His glory. Just as a concept car dazzles but never truly delivers lasting value on the road, any human attempt to generate or claim glory apart from God remains barren—fleeting, unproductive, and ultimately empty. True glory is found only in God’s self-revelation, manifested perfectly in Christ, and reflected in those who humbly point to Him rather than to themselves.

This leaves us with a sobering yet hopeful call: abandon vain pursuits of self-glory, and seek instead to manifest God’s enduring glory through obedience, faithfulness, and surrender to His design.

Ephesians 1:3-10 (English Standard Version)

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.

This passage reveals the ultimate purpose of God’s plan: He has made known to us the mystery of His will—something once hidden but now graciously disclosed through Christ.

At its heart, this is about our relationship with Jesus Christ—to unite us with Him and, ultimately, to unite all things in heaven and on earth under His lordship (v. 10).

The Bible exists to reveal this mystery and draw us into that union with Christ. It is not meant to answer every possible question we might have about life, the universe, or theology. If a question remains unanswered in Scripture, we can trust that we don’t need that answer to enjoy and grow in our relationship with Jesus.

Faith is not primarily a philosophical pursuit or an intellectual exercise to resolve every mystery. Instead, it is a gracious invitation to experience this living relationship with Christ—one we are freely allowed to participate in through His redeeming love and grace.