Our Unveiled Face

Many times, Christians hide their true selves from other people. They don’t like their church to know their real self, nor their friends or family even. We do not want to be viewed as less holy when our shortcomings are discovered.

Many times, Christians hide their true selves from other people. They don’t like their church to know their real self, nor their friends or family even. We do not want to be viewed as less holy when our shortcomings are discovered.

“Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” (, ESV)

When Moses would return from his visits with the Lord, his face would shine like the sun. The divine presence of God caused Moses face to shine. As more time elapsed, the radiance would dim, causing Moses fear that the people of Israel would see God’s glory cast upon him diminishing. We feel our sins lessen the glory of God that dwells in us; failing to live in the reality of our righteousness through Jesus Christ. In our depravity, there is nothing we could do to earn our salvation, but the free gift of grace was given to us regardless. We still live in our bondage by not trusting God’s word that we are righteous. So with this unbelief, we feel we must hide our true selves from others as if we are less because of our failures.

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.” (, ESV)

We were justified by Jesus so that we might live in His glory with unveiled face. We reflect His radiance to all, showing His glory that never diminishes. While our sin does indeed separate us from God, in our forgiven state, we have been set free. We are one with God through the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Repent from your sinful ways, and do not hide from the body of Christ! We are a community to help each other. We should not judge one another from human perception, but leave the judgment for God alone! Yes, we are to lovingly correct our brothers, but we do not abandon them or think lesser of them. If you are saved, then you are made righteous through your faith in Jesus Christ! Why do you live your life as if you were not made new? Are you paralyzed in fear? Your judge has already forgiven you and lives in you! Let the Holy Spirit conform you to the image of Jesus Christ and remove your veil!

We are called free, but you chose to live a slave to sin by putting on your veil. Instead, you should allow your community to know who you are, and grow within it. We are here to love one another. If you saw your brother about to do something that would harm them, do you judge them as a sinful person, or do you lovingly correct them, as a fellow sinner, because you care? You lovingly correct them, just in the way our Father in Heaven does! It is not to harm them, from a heart of malice, but out of love of God’s righteousness. Are you hiding behind your veil because you choose to continue sinning? Are you rebelling against God? Your salvation is at stake, and as Paul states, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling! Be not like your old self, but repent from this self-destruction and live the life of your rebirth in Jesus Christ!

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (, ESV)