After spending forty days in God’s presence when Moses descended the mountain, his face shone so much he placed a vail over his head to keep from scaring away the people (Exodus 34:30, 34); yet, he removed it in the presence of God. The vail was a shadow of things unfulfilled. They occurred to draw us closer to God and to remind us of His coming. But He came and people missed Him!!! “To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 ASV).
Even today man will invent ways to show God they’re serious about reaching Him. They subject themselves to burdens or pledges, even sacrifices. In some countries, people crawl on their bellies or make pilgrimages on their knees to please their god or to appease him. Again, those things don’t accomplish anything in God’s eyes. WHY?? Because Jesus offered the ultimate sacrifice: Himself! He went to the cross so we don’t have to.
Consider that billions of people live under an invisible vail draped over their eyes/face as well as over their entire lives. They fail to see God in everyday situations. When He visits, they attribute His visitation to angels, spirits, inanimate objects, powers that be, to chance, even to aliens.
Meanwhile, you’re not the only one under a vail. To this day God’s chosen people, the Israelites, continue having an invisible vail preventing them from seeing the whole of God’s plan for them. Check it out:
“But their minds were blinded: for unto this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away with in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:14-18).
Let’s see it this way: You’re a young, (OK, older) Indiana Jones on a quest for a treasure map leading to eternal riches. You spend hours staring at clues, ancient manuscripts, visiting sites, overturning stones, relics, etc. Yet staring back at you are the clues. But vailed, your eyes just can’t grasp it. You need a breakthrough, something to shed some light.
When we turn to the LORD with a sincere heart in repentance, Jesus, the Light of the world removes the vail and leads us to His Word, which is the treasure map leading to eternal life. Suddenly, the ancient manuscript (The Old Testament), as well as the New Testament come alive. Prior to this moment, “You were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
As a nation, Israel’s vail remains until the Time of the Gentiles is over. “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brother: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). The vail shall then be removed and all scriptures shall come alive to them. And we, the church, His Bride shall have our vail lifted so Jesus can see our face as the Holy Spirit presents us to Him for all eternity! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Revelation 19:710).
In the words of Johnny Nash, I Can See Clearly Now (!) How about you?
God Bless!
Sam
Recommended Song: Tim Hughes Here I Am to Worship (Light of the world You stepped down into darkness…)