September 15, 2014

Passers-by

I’ve put off washing the windows in my house because every couple of weeks a few rain drops mixed with dust blew would in from Utah. Finally last weekend Bill and I started washing the windows and the whole world became brighter. It really was as though a veil had been lifted. I could see my neighborhood more clearly, but strangely, I felt a venerability that neighbors or passers-bye could also see into the house more clearly. According to Paul, a veil covers the hearts of those who are under the law and it is only through Christ that the veil is removed. It had not registered with me that the veil being lifted is not merely for the benefit of the one who can now see clearly, but also for the passers-by. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever–increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18 NIV).

1 comment:

Steve Corey said...

Gail;

-----Light sources and windows make fun thinking. It’s wise to draw your curtains at night. The lights inside the house turn our windows into little TV screens. Everything in there is clearly presented to the darker world outside. But, from the well lit inside, you won’t be able to see anything in that outer darkness. The reflection of the light source on your side of the glass will wash out the sight of anything outside. So, when you hear an ominous rustling in the hedgerow, turn all inside lights off and all outside lights on. Now, nobody outside will be able to see in through the reflected light on their side of the glass while you will have a very well lit scene of everything out there.
-----Wisdom isn’t treasured like money by this world. But everyone wants at least some and lusts to think he’s the brighter. The world is blinded by epople's own lusts. The desire for the pride of self-sufficiency, pleasures and comforts, and the ambition to get more than we have light up our minds from the inside, for God’s wisdom does not serve such things. Nor does the reality of what God meant things to be extend from what we imagine ourselves. These are inner lights destroying our ability to see the reality outside us where the major portion of what God has made and is doing bears important information for us. It’s no wondered Jesus will come like a thief in the night to those who deny; they are so full of inner brightness, when they try to look out they can only see themselves reflected in the windows of their souls. Truly their minds are veiled.
-----But when we turn off that bright, inner light of our own self and let Christ’s light shine on all the things He’s made and done and said, the light floods in to us carrying all the imagery of His created reality. The veil of self-reflection is lifted so we can see the truth all around us.

Love you all,
Steve Corey