1 Corinthians 3:16-18
Whenever, 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.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend posted a link on Facebook to an article about a man who has traced his DNA back to a time that he claims makes the account of Adam and Eve as the original humans impossible. You can only imagine the debate this sparked. This friend - an academic genius in my book – spoke of the Biblical story of Adam and Eve’s creation as an “allegory”. He further commented…”I would rather let a God who cannot be simply defined lead the course of my life, rather than one who can be easily explained by a book. For if such a book were so perfect in explaining everything, then why are there still so many questions unanswered?”
As you can imagine, the “camps” who commented were fairly evenly divided. My friend cited “science” as indisputable. I shared a link to an article that offered a suggestion that “science” and “religion” can co-exist and actually provide complimentary views. But this devotional is not meant to spark a debate about creation science. My point in sharing this example today is to discuss compassion for others…and their points of view. How do we point them to God? How do we get them to turn their face toward Him rather than away from Him? I believe we must delicately balance our reactions…and responses…as well as our own behavior and daily witness. In order to ensure that we remain face-to-face with God…and that we reflect His shining face to others, we must carefully weigh our thoughts, words and actions.
There was so much I wanted to say to this young friend. I wanted to tell him how important God’s word is in my life…how each day I find even the same passage of scripture to be new and fresh. God’s intent through these words and “stories” does not change…but how He uses them to guide my path can shift from one day to the next. So the passage in James 4:8 that says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”(NLT) can say to me one day…”You need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer”…and another time it will tell me that “God is waiting to help you with this issue - scoot on over!” The account of Adam and Eve serves to set the stage for explaining sin…and the devil’s influence in our lives. On another day, God may use this “story” to illustrate to me how much He desires our companionship…and how He recognizes our own need for human company.
We must be ready to defend God’s word…and to share with others how He has cared for us and guided our steps. We also need to know when to back off and let His face shine through us. And this is where so many Christians seem to miss the mark. In our “zeal” to be a “good Christian,” we say and do things that often bring about more harm than help. We turn others off to the living, personal presence of God. In essence, we raise the “veil” and create a sense of mystery and distance.
After prayer and careful consideration, I trashed my written response to my friend in favor of the article link and a simple “I love you.” He sees my daily devotional posts. He knows me well…he knows where I stand – and with Whom. Hopefully, he sees the light of Christ permeating my soul and shining through to him…and wants that same Light to shine in and through his life!
As you react and respond to others, consider this scripture passage, and ask yourself if you have humbly invited God to enter your life and transform you. Is your face truly shining with the light of His face? Are you sharing Christ Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with those whom you encounter? Has the veil of confusion and mystique been dropped, so that God’s wisdom, power, love and care can truly be illuminated? Do you offer others compassion – and a glimpse of something that they would wish to run toward, rather an away from? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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