I Don't Want to Look

I found this passage of scripture from 2 Corinthians 3: 14-15 so very interesting.

But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

And what is so interesting? Well think about it. Moses comes down off a mountain. He saw God. And the evidence of God is on his face. Why do you ask that I say that? Because his face is shining like a light bulb. So if the light of God is shining like a light bulb from this man's face, why exactly would anyone want to put a veil over his face. It makes absolutely no sense. But when you think about it, the same people who refused to commune with God a few chapters back are the same people who want to put a veil over his face.

The deeply spiritual man would never walk into a house, turn on the lights, only to put a veil over all the bulbs. That would defeat the purpose of illuminating his world. On the other hand, the superficial man will find a reason to stifle the light in a room in an attempt to hide something. He wants nothing of the truth. He would rather live a lie, than to see that he has ways that are false.

But let's go deeper: Is it possible that the light of God upon the face of Moses revealed something within the people of Israel; something among the people, something within their hearts. The shining face of Moses revealed something evil and unrighteous they didn't want to let go. His shining face brought a conviction upon those he came in contact with. A parallel for light in the Scripture is truth. The light of God brings truth illuminates the situation and really exposes everything it comes in contact with. It reveals the good and the bad. Another parallel for light and truth in the Bible is fire. The fire of God is what tests us to find the real and eternal things of value. 

So no wonder the Israelites did not want to look. And as Paul said, the real veil is not what the people placed on Moses' face, the real veil appears on our hearts. So many of us attempt to dodge and side step God by hardening our own hearts towards the pulling of his Spirit. Many of us attempt to reason him away or simply drown ourselves in the pleasures of this life in a radical attempt to ignore God. When C.S. Lewis became a Christian he described his conversion in the terms of kicking and screaming, he was dragged into the kingdom. He was possibly the most unwilling convert in all of England that night; the same night he bent his knees and finally submitted himself to God. He hardened his heart all these years, but the fact that he was devoted to truth meant that he would have to give in if ever he had found God to be true. And the rest is history.

If you want to live a life that is full of meaning, then you're going to want to live a life full of truth and of light. If you come to Christ, he will not merely cause his glory to shine upon you, like he did Moses. On the other hand, he will cause his glory to shine from within you. Not a glory that fades over time, but a glory that grows as your relationship with God grows. Imagine, taking on the very character of God. Amazing!

Inspired by 2 Corinthians 3-4

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