After a long winter break EmmDevs resume...
No fading!
| Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2Corinthians3:12-18) |
The Israelites were filled with awe (at first they were too afraid to come near him) and Moses had to reassure them. But this glory faded and to save face (if you'll pardon the awful pun) Moses would wear a veil so that the people wouldn't see the glory fading. When next he spent time with God, His face would glow again.
This veil, partly for fear and partly for pride, is still on people's hearts today. The sad thing is that this veil not only prevents the wearer from being seen, it also prevents the wearer from seeing.
When we turn to God and receive His gift of salvation, the veil can be taken away and two beautiful things happen:
Firstly, we don't have to be ashamed of fading glory - brokenness and failures are not what it's about - we're not perfect, but our Saviour is. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. He is at work in us and we will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus: I don't have to be ashamed - He's the One who shines in me and He's at work.
Secondly, we can see clearly. The tragedy of Moses' story is that he didn't realise that instead of wearing a veil, he could have acknowledged that the glory wasn't his and that by being in God's presence he would shine again. When the veil is taken away we realise that He is all we need. Max Lucado's beautiful story about Punchinello portrays this so clearly. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI-kS4q8VB8
