Today’s Bible reading is in the middle of a passage that requires some explanation. Paul is explaining to the Christians at Corinth that the veil Moses put over his face when he spoke to the Israelites of old concealed the fact that the shine that appeared on his face every time he was in the tabernacle with God would fade away. This represented the old covenant that was also glorious, but that glory would fade away. He also compared it to the current time when the children of Israel had a veil over their minds and were unable to see truth. Then He said, “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” He wanted them to see!
In the Old Testament place of worship, a veil served another purpose. It hung between the holy place and the “holy of holies” where only the high priest could enter. The priest did this once a year on the day of atonement to make sacrifice for the sins of the people. The veil through which he passed represented the separation between sinners and God. This also demonstrated the need for a representative who could make atonement for sin. This veil and the ministry of a high priest remained in place until Christ came.
As Jesus died on the cross to make atonement for the sins of the human race, the veil in the temple ripped from top to bottom. The old is gone as the new covenant of faith in Jesus Christ removes the veil, both the veil of unbelief and obscurity, and the veil of separation from God. Now the way to God is now open to sinners through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and through faith in Him.
Paul goes on to say, “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” (1 Corinthians 3:18).
This is the marvel of faith in Jesus; He not only opens the way to God for me (He even said, “I am the way”) but also changes my life. Because the veil is gone, faith in Him has put me on a journey of transformation. One day, when I see Him face to face, “I will be like Him, for I will see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
It is this hope, which is not an I-hope-so, but an I-know-so hope, that moves me forward in life. I can approach God anytime, and directly. Jesus is my high priest and because He lives in me, the veil is torn away, both from that holy of holies where I can meet God and from my face where sin had blinded me to the wonders of God.
It is this confidence in Him that sustains me and others who know Him during difficult times. This past weekend, a family lost their 14-year-old daughter. She went for a walk before supper and was attacked and murdered on a path between the bush around her town and some houses. Some younger boys saw what was happening and went for help, but it arrived too late to save her.
This girl is the daughter of a pastor whom we know. He is a good friend of our pastor and has preached in our church. Of course they (and we who know them) are in shock and I cannot imagine their pain, yet because they know Jesus, both mother and father are saying, “We know that she is with Jesus.”
The veil is removed. All questions may never be answered, but the big one was settled a long time ago. Because of Jesus, this family not only knows where their daughter is now, but knows they will join her when God calls them home. We will see her again.
The Bible says that Christians grieve, but not the same way as those who have no hope. We mourn the loss. We are outraged over the way her life was taken from her. We feel the heartache that her family feels, but deep inside, we also know that Jesus holds her. She is with Him, maybe even laughing with joy. In that reality of faith in Christ and the power of God is indescribable comfort.
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