The Glory of Unveiled Faces

             Moses was given a privilege unlike any that we have ever encountered.  He went up on Mt. Sinai and talked directly with God.  That intimate meeting with the Creator of the universe left Moses’ face so radiant that the Israelites were afraid to come near him.  However, that radiance was short-lived, and the radiance began to fade.  As a result, Moses covered his face with a veil, so the loss of radiance would not be apparent to the Israelites (Exodus 34: 29 – 35).

            While Moses’ radiance was not permanent, Paul makes it clear in II Corinthians 3:18 that because we are in Christ, our “unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory”. He continues in that verse telling us that we “are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (NIV84).

            Now, that’s a privilege!  The glory that we receive from Christ does not fade; it only grows stronger as we allow Christ to transform us.  That’s what’s known as “sanctification” or more simply as growth in our Christian walk. 

            So how do we begin that transformation?  First and foremost, we must rely on the help of the Holy Spirit.  The sinful nature is too engrained in our being for us to overcome it without help.  That’s why Christ gave us the Holy Spirit, to be our Counselor and to teach us all things (John 14: 16, 17 & 26). 

            With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can begin the transformation process that Paul outlines in Romans 12.  It requires a change of mindset.  We can no longer cling to the teachings of the world but rather look to God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12: 2).  As he continues in that chapter, Paul reminds us that we must be humble and that we need to be aware of the gifts God has given us and be sure to use them for His Kingdom.  Love, joy, spiritual fervor, patience, and faithfulness are all key parts of the transformation process.

            If all that sounds overwhelming, remember you are not alone in this transformation.  The Holy Spirit is with you, and you have Christian brothers and sisters who will help to spur you on.  That’s why community is so important to the Christian walk. 

            Paul concludes Romans 12 with these words: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good (vs. 21).”  That’s a never-ending process.  Satan does not want you to succeed but as Paul reminds us in an earlier chapter of Romans, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).  Trust the Holy Spirit for guidance, be a student of God’s Word, and seek the counsel of Godly brothers and sisters.  You are not alone, so don’t try to make this transformation alone. 

            One more thing.  You won’t completely achieve this transformation this side of heaven, so all you perfectionists out there can just keep on keeping on!

II Corinthians 3: 12 – 18

Romans 12  

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