12)
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use
great plainness of speech:
13)
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of
14)
But their minds were blinded: for until this
day remaineth the same vail
untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which
vail is done away in Christ.
15)
But even unto this day, when Moses is read,
the vail is upon their heart.
16)
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord,
the vail shall be taken away.
17)
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
|
I |
t is common for people to be taught, and to believe, that men will come into salvation (i.e. become "Christians), yet remain the same. In a nutshell the thought is, "I will not necessarily be any different in this life, but I still believe that I can look forward to seeing my Jesus."
Misconceptions
about what the book of Revelation teaches are rampant with one of the most
common being that at the "rapture," anyone alive and remaining will
be changed in that proverbial "moment." The truth of the matter is
that the "change" spoken of refers to the transformation of the
physical body, not that of the transformation of the physical body, not that of
the spiritual state. While the physical transformation (from
a fleshly to a spiritual being) is accomplished only through the infilling of
the Holy Ghost and baptism in Jesus' name. Man is required to show
himself worthy of heaven through a life lived on earth, triumphant over trials,
tests and temptations.
The
devil has practiced his craft well in getting people to believe that no change
is expected (or possible) now, but that we can be confident that we will go
with Jesus when He returns. We all know that the majority of people in the world
take no though of please God, nor are they concerned about His affairs, yet it
is still believed that we can impose ourselves upon His heaven. Very few
entertain the thought that one's manner of living might exclude him from
heaven. This is even a pervasive thought in the Apostolic
church.
Our
scripture, today, points out to us that we are changed from glory to glory.
Obviously, if we have no starting place, we have no place to go. The
"starting place" for those who wish to make heaven, yet do not know Jesus,
is water baptism in the name of Jesus and baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is
no greater time to begin a change than today.
Without
controversy, we must be changed into the image of God. However, what we must
realize is that there is no mystical way to go about this. The act of baptism,
itself is not magical, though according to scripture, it does show sincerity
toward God. By undergoing baptism, one commits himself to do whatever the Lord
says. Being "free" enough to do what another commands you to do
requires a change-of-mind and this is something that only we can do.
Our
reality is that trials and tests will assail us, periodically. This is just the
way it is. We have been taught this, we have read this, we know this to be true
from experience yet, we "kick" against the pricks." These things
are used in our lives to help us "to be(come)
like Jesus." We re expected to become like Him, today, not to wait for His
return.
The
children of
While
everyone else has benefited from the coming of the Saviour, the Israelites
remain caught up in the law because it is what they had already accepted. They
would not change, which made them unable to accept the fulfillment of the law
and so they remain blinded.
Once
one is saved, he can never allow personal feelings to determine how he should
handle a situation. In that our lives belong to the Lord, we must consult Him
for answers to questions about that life. Jesus holds all answers to all
questions and situations at all times. When He walked the earth, He always did
the "right thing"—that is, what please the Father. In that we possess
His same Spirit, how could we not have the same power of judgment? When we go
lacking of direction, it is simply because we will not ask.
Also
hindering us are the many preconceived ideas and misconceptions that we bring
into salvation. The only way one can get past them and accept the truth of
salvation is to eliminate them. There is no way for anything not based on truth
to coexist in the same vessel with truth. What is not based upon God and His
word will "cancel out" any partial truth that we try to accept. Too
many are examples of the fact that whatever we believe (that is, "are
convinced of") is what we will act upon—even if it is not true and even if
it does not work.
The
people of God are suffering from a lack of purpose, direction and focus. Very
few "pastor-teachers," themselves, know what God's overall plan
involves and therefore, they cannot convey it to their flock. This leads to
many walking about as drunk men, not only unable to
walk it, but largely not even comprehending a "straight path." We, as
those who have clear vision, must recognize that is our job to allow nothing
and no one to deter us from serving the Lord or clouding our vision as to why
we are saved.
So,
you may ask, in the midst of so many distractions and so much
"pressure" from the enemy, how do we ever achieve this? "To be
like Jesus" is the only way.
Being
"like Jesus" is the sole means by which we manage to keep our focus
off ourselves. Being "like Jesus" gives one the zeal and
determination to declare, "I shall, I will, I must make it!"
We must face facts: the devil will do his job. In many ways, he is more dedicated to his than many of us are to ours. He is determined to work until everything is over and we are bound to do no less. The stamina necessary to do this will not be found in mortals, but those, "...changed into His image" will find all of the power of heaven and earth available to them. It is only those who rely on that power "...from glory to glory" will be fit to occupy a place with the King of Kings.