Devotion for September 5, 2008

The Glorious Gospel Revealed

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—— unlike Moses, [who] put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the [veil] is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 NKJV)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not like the law. The children of Israel had a veil shielding them from the truth of Christ. Even today the Jews are blinded to their Messiah.

However, you can praise God that when one turns to Christ that veil is lifted, and the light of the Son pours into the heart of the believer chasing away the darkness and revealing the glorious grace in which he stands. Salvation is an awaking to the truth. It is described as new birth. It is liberty!

While new things are often so strange, and change being a natural part of life, a new believer may not realize the magnitude of his new understanding. However, in retrospect all true believers will marvel at the mind opening grace with which they have been blessed.

Know this too; all true believers are being transformed by their new sight. As believers see the glory of the Lord revealed more and more, the Holy Spirit continues work change in the their lives. From glory to glory the image of the son is impressed on their hearts like the light that shone from Moses’ face.

Give yourself to reading and meditation for the only thing that hinders this marvelous transformation is sin and/or absence.  Keep My commandments the Lord said again and again.

Are you able to see the transformation? It should be apparent like day is to night. Has sin so overwhelmed you that only a small candle flickers in the distant darkness? Then crawl, fight, run to that feeble flame and add fuel to the fire lest it go out and you are left in outer darkness where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

However, for those who are thankful, for those who see the great work the Gospel has accomplished, let them carry that light to the ends of the earth. As Paul said, “Since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech.” Amen.