Avoiding Sonblock
While vacationing at the beach the other day, I noticed how differently people position themselves in relation to the sun. Many hide from the sun, scrambling to get under umbrellas and to relax in chairs, others stretch out on towels welcoming the full force of the sun’s rays on their bodies, and others enjoy swimming to escape the sun’s heat. Most, if not all, have made use of some manner of sunblock or sunscreen to protect them from destructive UV rays.
The sun will change your skin – so caution is required.
The Son will change your life – please, take no caution with Him.
Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 3.18, “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.”
The veil he refers to is found in Exodus 34.29-35. In the passage, Moses, after meeting with God, descended Mt. Sinai carrying the two tablets in his hand. Moses’ brother, Aaron, and the other sons of Israel were frightened because the face of Moses shone with the glory of God. But Moses called them closer and he spoke with them about the commandments of God. When he had finished speaking, Moses put a veil over his face so the people could not see the glory diminishing. When Moses spoke with God, he would remove the veil and the glory of the Lord would cause Moses’ skin to shine again.
The veil Moses used to keep the hearts of the people encouraged is the very same device, spiritually speaking, we use to keep our distance from God and others. For us, the veil is usually spiritual pride: an attitude which tries to keep God at a “safe” distance. Such a veil is a block, an obstacle, a hindrance to spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ.
- You attend church, but is there no genuine seeking after God. The veil is up.
- You own Bibles, but open them only in emergencies. The veil is up.
- You call yourself “Christian,” but spend little time with the One who gave His life for you. Again, it’s the veil.
Sunblock is helpful. Sonblock is tragic.
The Lord Jesus pardons, heals, redeems, crowns and satisfies (Psalm 103) why would we want to shut Him out of our lives?
He was despised, forsaken of men, struck and afflicted of God while carrying our sorrows: diseases, weaknesses and distresses. He was pierced, crushed, chastened and scourged…for us (Isaiah 53). Why do we keep Him at arms length?
In Jesus is found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the fullness of Deity in human form. In Jesus we have been made complete and are delivered from the spiritual effects of the flesh. He has raised us up with Himself through death and resurrection, granting us total forgiveness and total victory over our enemies (Colossians 2). Why do we ignore Him in our daily living?
And that love! What about the love of Jesus Christ? The love that neither suffering, distress, persecution, hunger, destitution, peril nor sword cannot separate us from? The love that neither death, life, angels, principalities, present things nor future things nor powers nor height, depth, nor any created thing can separate us from? ( Romans 8 )
Paul writes (God’s Word Translation), “but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. The Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3.16-18 GWT)
As we reflect the Lord’s glory, we are transformed from one level of His glory to the next, to the next - simply by reflecting more and more of His Presence in our lives.
The Lord has a plan for you. Throw caution to the wind where Jesus is concerned. Remove all hindrances in your life which keep you from knowing Him more. Then, give yourself, with total abandonment, to Him.
The Son will change your life.
