When One Turns to The Lord The Veil is Removed
October 7, 2020
Commentary
The Bible is basically a picture book as it uses illustration after illustration of real-life situations to get across to us Biblical principles of life. In this passage we find Paul using the experience of Moses given in Exodus 34:29-35. It tells how Moses’ face shone, reflecting the glory of God when he came down from communing with God. However, Moses knew that the glory (just like the Old Testament covenant) would fade away, so he put on a veil. This prevented them from seeing the glory disappear; for after all, who wants to follow a leader who is losing his glory? It also concealed the Law, which had just been given, because the people were not ready to be told that this system was only temporary. Their minds are blinded to the finished work of Christ, and it is as though the veil upon Moses’ face still blinds their hearts (v. 14).
Not only is there a veil which keeps the Jews from seeing the real meaning of Scripture; but there is also a veil which comes between them and God. Sometimes it is the veil of disobedience. Very often it is moral and not intellectual blindness which keeps us from seeing God. If we persist in disobeying Him, we become less and less capable of seeing Him. Sometimes it is the veil of the unteachable spirit. The best teacher on earth cannot teach the man who knows it all and does not wish to learn. God gave us a free will, and, if we insist upon our own way, we cannot learn His way. In the Old Covenant when Moses entered the Lord’s presence, he removed his veil (Exodus 34:34). In the same sense when a Jew (or anyone) turns to the Lord, he must understand, and the veil will be removed (v. 16). Then, just as Moses reflected the glory of God, you and I may radiate the glory of God (v. 18). The glory of the Law faded away, but the glory of God’s grace continues in our lives.
Application
Is there some area of my life where I still wear a veil? Am I continuing in the old way when I know that all things are to become new? I need to ask the Holy Spirit to remove the veil.
2 Corinthians 3:12– 18 (NET)
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, 13 and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective. 14 But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Illustration: God knows The Time For My Death
A battlefield is a deadly place, even for generals; and it would be naive to suppose Stonewall Jackson never felt any fear but invariably he displayed extraordinary calm under fire, a calm too deep to be mere pretense. His apparent obliviousness to danger attracted notice, and after the First Manassas battle someone asked him how he managed it. “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed,” Jackson explained, “God knows the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter where it may overtake me.” He added pointedly, “That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.” (Source Unknown)