Day 20 – Unveiled Faces

“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.”

~ 2 Corinthians 3:12-16

Yesterday we saw that Christ was the very radiance of God’s glory. In seeing the Son, the world has seen the glory of God. In His Son we see God’s glory but we also see God’s plan for rescuing and purifying man. It is a glory that we have the opportunity to behold and savor.

That’s one of the most beautiful parts of this passage in 2 Corinthians 3 – the chance to behold His glory in the most remarkable of ways. Moses wanted to behold God more than anything, but He was only able to get a glimpse of God (Exodus 34). It was this quick glance that transformed Moses’ appearance so significantly and his face shone so brightly that it had to be veiled just so the Israelites could look at Moses.

In Christ, we have something so much better. There’s no more need for a veil. We don’t just have to take a glimpse of God and His glory. The implications of the Advent and sacrifice of Christ in this Scripture are enormous.

First, of all we have a bold access to the Father through Christ. No longer does a tent stand between God and man. No longer does man have to fear death by entering into God’s presence because of an unclean life. Our great high priest has removed the stain of sin and given man the chance to approach His God boldly without fear. As Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Secondly, we have the incredibly gift of beholding God’s glory. Gone are the days when all man could get was a peek of the glory of the Almighty. Christ has ushered in a new covenant that allows man to bask in the glory of God and in doing so man is changed for the better. Just as Moses was affected by a obscured vision of God, man on this side of the Cross has his life transformed by beholding the glory of God.

It is this transformation that comes by God’s glory for God’s glory. May we seek to do little else over this next week than to behold the glory of the God that has come to earth.

Prayer

Take a few minutes to seek God and ask that He will stir your affections for Him and that you will fix your eyes on Him and His glory.