Today's sermon in church was amazing!  Our church had an installation service for our new pastor, and Dr. Jim Grier, a special friend and mentor of our church, spoke from 2 Corinthians 3:11-18.  

He set up the context by giving a survey of God's story through redemptive history, beginning with the Creation all the way through the consummation of the Kingdom when Jesus Christ returns and conquers evil once and for all.  Special mention was made about the cloud of God's presence making His dwelling among His people in the wilderness, then in the tabernacle when entering the Promise Land, and especially in the Temple when Solomon dedicated it to the Lord.  When at Mount Sinai, the Israelites were so overwhelmed by God's presence that they sent Moses up to the mountain to speak to God on their behalf.  When Moses would come down from the mountain to share God's revelation with the Israelites, Moses had to wear a veil over his face because his face resonated the glory of God so brightly.  This veil is very important to what came about from this text, so keep this in mind.

Then, Dr. Grief described one of Ezekiel's visions (Ez. 10) that showed the cloud of God's presence with the Israelites during their Babylonian captivity.  Their rebellion was great, and God was almost trying to restrain Himself from leaving...but in the end, His presence drifted up to the mountain and then out of sight.  God had left His people...a sad and agonizing day in the life of God's people.

But it was not to remain that way.  God made His dwelling among men once again, this time as a man.  This man was the perfect example of what God was like in the form of a human being, yet the Jews would have nothing to do with Him.  They crucified the Lord of Glory, thinking they were rid of this outrage to God's Law.  Yet, Jesus Christ's resurrection and ascension brought about something far bigger than anyone had expected or anticipated.  God sent the Holy Spirit to His people and once again, the first time since Ezekiel's vision, God made His dwelling among men.  This time, it was the Holy Spirit, who made His dwelling in the hearts of those who confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord.

And so, Paul writes this simple, yet wonderful and glorious statement in his epistle:  "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed" (2 Cor. 3:16).  

Remember the veil?  The veil that once clouded our vision of seeing the Lord in His fulness is now removed because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  But take note: the veil's removal is only for those who place their faith in Him to save them from God's wrath, forgive them of their sins, and impute the righteousness of Christ to their account.  Paul concludes this section of his epistle by giving us hope for what the unveiled face means:

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18).  

What an amazing truth from God's Word!  I am now able to behold the glory of God.  I am being transformed, day by day, into the same image, the image of the glorified Christ.  What did I ever do to deserve such great things?  Why did God look on me, a sinner, and choose me for this?  God's grace is so precious.  He longs to make His dwelling place in my heart and the hearts of His redeemed.  I will never know why, but I can be abundantly grateful and give my thanks to Him for causing me to be a part of His story...the story of the redeemed, from Creation to Consummation.