What is the Mirror saying?

In my Bible study this morning, I was looking at 2 Corinthians 3:6-18. In this passage, Paul is comparing the new covenant with the old. Obviously, he is talking to new Christians, some of them converted Jews. I say this because gentiles would not have any understanding of the Old Testament, and there would have been no reason for Paul to do a comparison.

Paul states: But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? Paul seems to insist that the New Covenant is to be more glorious.

I am struck on two counts:
1. Moses is one of my heroes… if he was transformed by meeting with God and getting the first covenant, then there is hope for us who are entrusted to the second.
2. Where is the glory? Where are the signs and wonders? Where are the people walking around with glory on their faces?

I remember going to church as a little girl. I can remember one time that I saw a woman glow with the anointing of the Lord. It is a memory that I will never forget. I stood there, amazed. Her face was glowing. At the time, I am sure that I thought that this was the same thing that happened to Moses when he came down from the top of Mt. Sinai.

Where is that glow today? Paul states: For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

I don’t know about you, but I am hungry to see that glory. The Old Testament saints should not have had all the fun. The present day church should, according to this passage be more glorious. More glorious, not less. We should not be reading the stories of the Bible and be wishing that we had that same sort of visitation of glory. The Church should be more than before… More powerful, more glorious. The Bible says that this New Covenant IS more glorious.

I am not seeing it…. I am seeing a church that is struggling. There is not much difference between the church people and the people of the world. The church is subject to divorce at the same ratio. They are subject to the same diseases, the same tragedies. An outsider looking toward the church would not find much to attract him. It should not be this way.

The passage further states: 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 by the Spirit of the Lord.

What a reality check: Whom do we look like? Where is that transformation? The Lord cannot come back until we are a glorious church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27) I confess, I am looking for more.

Until next time,

Polly

  • Cynthia Burton says:

    Amen, amen, amen, Polly. What is the path, the way, to have this glory on the people of God today? I read and appreciate all of your emails. Was truely blessed by this one. Thanks, Cynthia

    • Thanks, Cynthia… It is hard to say… I know that the closer we become in tune with God through the Holy Spirit, the more likely we are to have this glory revealed. I believe that God wants to reveal this glory. I believe we are the problem…..

  • Pat says:

    This is so true, Polly!! Moses separated himself from the people and spent a lot of time on his knees; had a lot of face time with God. With so many people pulling on us today, it takes a great deal of discipline and sacrifice to separate ourselves from every day life and spend time in the presence of God. Thank you for reminding me how much I need to work on that self-discipline.