THE GLORY SHINE –or- SON-TANNED
ON the 10th of September, we remember Moses’ descent
from Mt. Sinai. What once came with glory, a glory that was displayed on
Moses’ face--a radiance that disabled people from looking Moses in the eye--not only
came to an end but was drained of its glory because something better was to come
along: the permanent ministry of the Holy Spirit in working righteousness. Let’s
not forget why Moses’ face shone = because he had
spoken to the LORD. The people
could not look intently into Moses’ face so he put a veil over his face so
people would not be afraid to come near him; but when he spoke with God he would
take the veil away. In Exodus 34:28-35, we read that Moses wasn't even aware that his face had become "radiant" ["horned" = to push with horns, so there was a radiant quality that pushed]. And so it is with us.
We can hope in this "pushy glory" because it is eternal yet
present with us—we are experiencing something from God’s good and eternal realm
in this temporal one … and we like it! Since glory wears off, like a good summer’s tan,
or the taste of chocolate, or the scent of our loved one, [place here your
fitting simile], we desire it over and over again; moreover we are emboldened to
let the "glory shine" unlike veiled Moses! The outcome for him was "faded glory"—the
dazzle declined. The outcome for others was hardened stubbornness. However,
when their hardened hearts and minds are confronted to reckon with the "pushy glory" of Christ
and they give in and turn themselves over to Him, freedom becomes theirs! Freedom to boldly live
for God with faces "ablaze with reflective glory" coming from inside out!
Some
have little glory, others have much more, but all have the same glory resource
as the Spirit molds each minister (each of us) into Christ’s image. Glory, therefore, is "God’s Son-tan" on His people from being in His
presence = It
is pure Glory-Shine! [bust a move here while singing "Shine, make em wonder what you've got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking bored..."]
How do we “behold the glory of the [eternal] Lord?” Is it
by looking at each other and seeing it there? Is it by looking to him in prayer
and spending time in His presence and in spiritual disciplines?
Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a lustre upon a man's countenance, such as commands esteem and affection (Matthew Henry).
...when he [Moses] came down the mount, as he could not see his own face without a glass, so though the rays of light and glory that darted from his face were so bright and strong, that they might have been observed by him, yet his mind was so intent on what he had seen and heard, that he took no notice of them. (Gill)
Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him—It was an intimation of the exalted presence into which he had been admitted and of the glory he had witnessed (2Co 3:18); and in that view, it was a badge of his high office as the ambassador of God. No testimonial needed to be produced. He bore his credentials on his very face; and whether this extraordinary effulgence was a permanent or merely temporary distinction, it cannot be doubted that this reflected glory was given him as an honor before all the people. (J-F-B)