2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (The Message)
With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back.
Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us.
He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn't notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn't notice. They didn't notice it then and they don't notice it now, don't notice that there's nothing left behind that veil.
Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can't see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there's nothing there.
16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face!
They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone.
And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete.
We're free of it! All of us!
Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face.
And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
The powerful description we read, just two days ago, takes on a sad dimension today's reading from the Apostle Paul.
Moses' shining face, radiant from his visit with God at Mt. Sinai, begins to fade.
Paul says the veil mentioned in that Old Testament story was there to hide Moses' shame that the glow was passing away.
How sad it is to spend time with congregations, or entire denominations, or with individual Christians who spend much more time looking backward at what was, than focusing on a present connection with the face-to-face God.
Paul advocates a complete ripping away of the veil. In fact, he says that is exactly what Jesus came to do.
Relationship with the living Christ can never fade away.
There is no "constriction." There is not oppression. There is joy and life and a pulse!
Ours is not a religion of "chiseled stone." What God offers is relationship, presence and power.
If you haven't experienced that, ask God to bring that into your life. If your church is determined to protect the chiseled stone...perhaps you have to find a place of life, for your own spiritual health. If we find ourselves more concerned with legislation than love...we must let the Holy Spirit speak, and we must be willing to listen, and change.
But really, this isn't something that can be preached. It must be shown. Once "transfiguration" happens, nothing else will do.
Grace & Peace,
Adam
Today's Bonus: Could this be a "Transfiguration Sunday" song?
2 comments:
I LOVE IT!!! I'm also lol, what a perfect song for our discussion. On a seperate note I attempted to pay it fwd today. Coming out of the DR office a young man obviously disabled was crying and asking for directions to a DR. office. He said he was 2 yrs back from irag and was part of a car bomb that put metal plates on his entire left side. So i drove him from DR to DR until finally someone would see him. Afterwards he had to get meds and catch a bus back to dwntown so i offered to take him to HE holmes station. Along our ride i asked him about VA and his appt, i thought it odd that he was just randomly trying to walk in anywhere. He asked me if i was cool and affiliated with the PD. I told him know but asked if he was doing anything illegal. He said no he wasn't selling but was in the eyes of the law probably breaking the law. he explained that his transition to VA has not completed and he has no medical insurance. He said he was a recovering addict who is simply trying to coup with pain. We talked about AA and his pain medicine, he acknowledge that the pain pills were narcotics and that at least he is regulated vs. buying off the street. I asked him if he was involved in church and he said no but his woman friend was and has been an inspiration to him. I asked him if i could say a prayer and blessing on his behalf and told him that there is something stronger that can help his pain. We chatted for a bit, he took my number said a prayer and blessed me for being a sumaritain. At the eod i'm not sure what he said was factual or not, but what i do know is for that moment he was captivated by what i had to say. Moral of story i choose to see the good real or potential. I'm able to do that because i know that in my own self both exists yet GOD see's only the good.
Jeff, this is what ministry is all about at its heart. So proud for you being the hands and feet of Christ for a moment, and that you allowed God to use you. This is scripture lived out, and what you guys experienced was a moment of transfiguration!
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