See with Clarity the LIGHT of the World
When God spoke with Moses, they talked as ‘old friends’ without posturing, with openness & with honesty. If you have not read this conversation in quite some time, let’s read together—
“Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. . . .”
(Exodus 33: 11 a NASB)
The other night, I dressed in costume, one that the world perceives as ‘biblical’ attire, and a group of us greeted visitors as they walked toward the Christmas cabin. The entire park was lit with twinkling lights, with air-filled statues, and with parents who brought their children to see Santa. Children walked along the path clutching in their small hands their lists to give to Santa. First, the path led beside the nativity scene. It is there, in that small group portraying the birth of Jesus, we brought several lights to ‘light up’ the scene. One light was positioned behind Mary and Joseph, shining directly on the babe in the manger. Another light was positioned directly behind where I stood with the other greeters. The first light shone down upon the manger & the second light blinded us to the world if we peered toward it.
It is there—standing in the light—where my mind pauses.
In the Bible, we read of a tyrant, a religious man, a guy who had the resources, the education, and the authority to arrest Christians. Saul of Tarsus was that man. Time and again he diligently completed the task allotted to him, and several Christians living their lives suffered at the hand of Saul.
- Saul walked toward the town Damascus one day, suddenly becoming blinded by the Light & the voice of God. Saul became a changed man when he encountered God. If not for Saul’s faithfulness, I may not be a Christian today.
- The ‘apostle’ Paul (once the man Saul of Tarsus) planted churches across Europe, writing letters to encourage and discipline them when he could not be physically present with them. Paul wrote two such letters to the believers living in Corinth. If you have not read the second letter to the Corinthians in quite some time, let us read together noticing what God led Paul to say about Moses’ encounter with God on the mountaintop—
“But to this day whenever Moses is read,
(2 Corinthians 3: 15-18 NASB)
[when the law, the Old Testament Mosaic Law, from the Bible is read]
a veil lies over their heart;
but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
[Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth to dwell with mankind.]
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
[When a person surrenders his heart to Jesus, trading his selfish will for God’s will, freedom in Christ, God’s Amazing Grace, is received.]
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 from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Once we know Jesus as our Savior, We Suddenly See with Clarity the LIGHT of the World. From that moment, we share in divine honor and authority over creation. Within the power of God’s Holy Spirit, we receive influence and are entrusted with spiritual gifts to use for God’s glory. The bright, shining radiance of magnificent, Almighty God is seen as “with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, . . .”
Not only do we see the TRUTH of God within His Word, but we live out the rest of our lives “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
- God knew Moses & God knows us.
- God spoke with Moses face-to-face & God speaks with us.
- God engaged in heart-to-heart conversations with Moses & God will do the same with us.
- God knew Moses in intimate relationship & God desires to know each of us in the same way.
Our task: Be open to God. Listen for His voice. See His Son, the Light of the World & Receive Him as our Savior. From that second, we are gifted with an intimacy unknown before that moment & From that moment, we are given the opportunity to REALLY KNOW GOD!
But first, we must—See with Clarity the LIGHT of the World.
At this Christmas season, let us ask ourselves:
- What has God entrusted to us?
- Who has God brought into our lives so that we might point them to Jesus?
- How are we serving God with the spiritual gift(s) He has given to us?
- How do we see how the Holy Spirit is making a difference as we exercise the authority God has sealed within us?