AND WE ALL, HAVING BEEN UNVEILED IN FACE

     “And we all having been unveiled in face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

     This tells us plainly one thing for certain — that the Lord is the Spirit. For it says, “even as from the Lord, the Spirit.” For God IS Spirit (John 4:24). And furthermore, it also tells us that glory comes FROM the Spirit. Which is FROM the Lord. Which confirms yet another thing — that the glory is HIS, not ours, lest we somehow forget. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). But what does it mean to be “unveiled of face”? And why is unveiling our face a precursor or pre-condition to beholding the glory of God, albeit “as in a mirror”?

     Has it not been written that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world? (1 John 4:4). And is the Spirit of the Lord not in you? For are we not told in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is IN YOU, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” And are we not “in the world”? For did Jesus not say, “As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world?” (John 17:18). And did He not also say, “I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one“? (John 17:15). And is the world not the kingdom of the evil one? Therefore, in order to be protected from the evil one, do we not need to then be in the world?

     So, then, He who is in you, and who is greater than we who are in the world, is none other than “the Lord, the Spirit”. And as we are transformed — in spirit and in truth — from glory to glory into the image of the Lord, a time is coming and will soon be upon us when that greatness of the One who is “in you” shall — as in a mirror — be unveiled before all the world in the countenance of the face of men, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Just like on one day pre-purposed by God that a time came for unveiling the glory of the LORD in the physical temple of the LORD, which was when the veil was finally torn from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51).

     But it is clear that only when our faces are unveiled to reveal the Spirit within, shall our faces reveal a mirror image of His glory. Which will be at a time of His choosing. For under heaven, there is a season for every thing, and a time for every purpose. (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Since all things work according to His master clock and master plan. Which, when it happens, will be a glory that shall be like “the radiance of the moon”. For does a full moon not shine brightly? And is its radiance not vast and unmistakable? And does its glory not fill all of the sky? And is it not a lamp on a high hill that cannot be hidden?

    Even so, for every eye that witnesses the glory of the Lord upon the face of His people, His temple — just as it was once displayed on the face of Moses — it will be like beholding “as in a mirror” the glory of the Lord. For is it not true that of the moon, it has no light of its own to speak of? But merely “reflects” the glory of the sun? Therefore, since the radiance of the moon is merely “a reflection” of the light of the sun, in being a reflection, is the moon then not “as a mirror”? For does a mirror not “reflect an image” of another, but of itself is not the image?

     So too, then, as beholding iin a mirror., shall we all having been unveiled in face, reveal the glorious glory of the Lord And what a magnificent glory it shall be. For of the brightness of the moon, it will be as bright as the sun. For is it not written, “The light of the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter — like the light of seven days — on the day that the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds He has inflicted”. (Isaiah 30:26). Which is a day and a time under heaven purposed by God for such a season.

     And is this not why we have been commissioned to go into the world? Not only to be A WITNESS unto the LORD by loving our neighbour as ourselves, and through that love, to make disciples of all nations, but in order that as we are transformed from glory to glory by His indwelling love into His very image and likeness, so that what has in ages past been foretold may be fulfilled? Which is so that ALL THE EARTH will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD (Habakkuk 2:14). Which will fittingly be when the glory of the Son shall be as the light of the sun made seven times brighter. Like the light of seven days. Which is perfect, and complete, lacking nothing. For the Father WILL honour His Son. And ALL the earth SHALL know His glory. ”The glory of the LORD shall be revealed. And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:5).

     Which will all come to pass at the great occasion that all the earth eagerly and earnestly awaits for. Which is for the revealing of the sons of God. Being all those whose faces will be unveiled before all the world. Like the rising of a full moon as bright as the sun to put on display the seven-fold glory of the Son. "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8:19). For the Father tells us all that we have been created for this purpose. Which is to reveal His glory. That the glory of THE SON may be made known in all the earth. “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for MY GLORY; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7). Which will be on that great day when we shall all be like Him. For we shall have been transformed from glory to glory into the same image. Which will be when we have arrived at a maturity of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2).

     Dear Lord, our God and Father, may Your name be hallowed in each one of us. May Your kingdom come in each one of us. And may Your will be done in each one of us. Make Your Spirit so prominent in us, dear Lord, that before all the world, Your glory may be revealed even in our faces. And in so doing, that the glory of the LORD may fill ALL the earth. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).