FROM GLORY TO GLORY IN DESTINY

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image FROM GLORY to GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” – 2 Corinthians  3:18

The Ultimate Proof of Progress on the Pilgrim’s Pathway is to go FROM GLORY to GLORY IN DESTINY: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image FROM GLORY to GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Pet. 3:18). The English Standard Version reads thus: “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…” The God of Glory created Man in His Image, to manifest His Glory: “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet” (Psa.8:5-6).

Seeing God in the Old Testament was a serious matter. But Moses was privileged to speak to God as though he was face-to-face (Exo. 33:11). Whenever he did this, his face reflected the radiance of Jehovah’s Shekinah! He would come out of the tent of meeting with his face shining and declare to the Israelites what God had spoken to him: “But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him” (Exodus 34:34-35). Paul wrote that Moses covered his face not only for its bright lustre, but because his face would eventually lose its radiance – it was “passing away” (v.13).

The glory on Moses’ face was intermittent and temporal; it wasn’t permanent. For him and the people, the glory had to be renewed each time he went into the holy of holies. He veiled his face so that the people could not see the slowly fading of the glory that once was there (v.7). What a contrast is the revelation that came in the Person of Jesus Christ, which is full and final! He instituted the New Covenant – a better covenant! It produces in us a greater splendour that will never fade! There is no fading of glory with Him. Jesus “is the Image of the invisible God” (Col.1:15). At the Mount of Transfiguration we catch a glimpse of the permanent, indwelling Glory of God in Christ, as the Lord manifested His Glory before Peter, James, and John (Mt.17:2-8). Years later, the apostle Peter told about that experience when “they saw His glory” (Lk.9:32; 2Pet.1:16-17). The apostle John referred to the same experience (Jh.1:14,18).

Unlike Moses’ periodic encounters with God and fading experience of His glory, as believers in Christ, we are constantly encountering Him and being transformed by His Glory! Moses was a footprint to glory; Jesus is the Pinnacle of Glory! Moses’ was a reflected glory; Jesus’ is the full, abiding glory. We, through faith, gaze upon the unveiled, unhidden glories of the Lord in the Word, and are transformed into the same from glory to glory. Our lives should constantly reflect the radiance of His Glory. Those who we are in constant contact with should notice the glow about us!

Every Believer in Christ is an open letter, a walking, living advertisement for Christ. We carry an awesome responsibility because the world is watching our attitudes and actions. The All-sufficient God makes us sufficient for this task as the Holy Spirit changes our human nature through an ever-increasing intimate love-relationship with Himself. God’s commanded light “has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor.4:6). In Christ, our destiny is full of glory!