Sunday, April 10, 2011

Unveiled Faces


And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. — 2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV


Read the whole passage in context:  2 Corinthians 3

I have to be honest: THERE IS SO MUCH IN THIS CHAPTER THAT I MAY JUST HAVE TO SPEND MORE THAN ONE BLOG ON IT BECAUSE I DON'T QUITE GET IT ALL YET.

But I wanted to share something that is going through my head.

In the Old Testament, Moses was in the presence of God writing out the Law.  When he came down from the mountain, his face was shining so much that he put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome... (2 Corinthians 3:13).  Moses was in the presence of God and there was an obvious and visible result of that encounter.  Everyone could tell because Moses had been changed.

Fast forward to today.  Notice this truth: "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV).  The veil is removed.  There is veil that only Christ can remove when the "old covenant" is read.  Without Christ unveiling a heart, a person cannot understand the heart of the gospel.  The facts, sure.  But the heart behind it, no.  And when that heart is changed, the Spirit (who is the Lord) comes into that life and brings FREEDOM.  That's right.  FREEDOM!!!

freedom - the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.

I am free not to sin.  I am free to follow Christ.  I am free to serve Jesus.  I am free to surrender everything to the God who loves me beyond ability to comprehend.  I am free.  And for those of you in Christ, so are you.

So hang in there.  Remember what Paul said at the end of this chapter:  "And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  There was glory in the old covenant, but it does not compare with the glorious work that the Spirit of God is doing.  The Spirit of God (who is the Lord) is at work in every follower of Christ.  There are not some that are being transformed and some that are not.  All are being transformed.  It's a process. Parts of that process are so much fun while others are so painful to endure, but all bring about the transformation that is more glorious than our former way of living.  You're in process.  It will take every ounce of strength in you, filled by the grace of God, to move forward.  Thankfully, God's grace is amazing, his mercy is unending and new every morning, and his love is steadfast.  God wants you to succeed more than you want to.  "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, ESV). 

But how can you be sure? Because the work of the Spirit of God in a life is more glorious than the work of religion in the dying.  "For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."  And since God began the work in you, he will finish it, gloriously.  The result: a veil will not be able to hide what it is that God is doing, and has done, in you.

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