Inspired by . . . unveiled faces

Inspired by . . . unveiled faces

Choice Hotels may deny it but some people just have a certain "glow" about them. Have you noticed?

Currently, my son and DIL are glowing in anticipation of their first child. Perhaps you've noticed a certain glow about a friend or loved one after they received a marriage proposal or some other life-changing news.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.  (Exo 34:29)

Talk about life-changing!

Moses glowed so brightly that the Israelites were afraid and made him cover his face with a veil.

And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went in to speak with Him. (Exo 34:33-35)

The people were afraid of the Light, the Glory of God, because it revealed their sinfulness. We are still afraid today.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (Joh 1:4-5)

He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. (Joh 1:11)

 But we no longer have anything to fear. Because of Jesus we can step into the Light and live in freedom.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 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. 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. (2Co 3:12-18)

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. Today we recall the time when the apostles' witnessed Jesus "glow" in the presence of His Father. When they heard the Lord say, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (Luk 9:35)

Because of God's great love for us, He sent His Son to take upon Himself the ugliness of our sin and shame and to conquer it, once and for all.

Because of Jesus, the veil is lifted between us and God. We can live in His presence, we can walk in freedom.

As we enter this season of Lent, may we seek to "give up" those things which still try to separate us from our heavenly Father. As we remove each "thing" from our life, may we fill that void with more of Jesus until we are so filled with His Spirit that the light leaks out and makes us glow!

Shalom,