When my mom moved into her condo, some sort of film covered the windows. Light shone through, but everything looked distorted. She couldn’t see outside clearly. It took a grandson — armed with a razorblade, window washing gear, and YouTube video — four hours to scrape it all away.
Unlike my mother’s windows, no amount of scrubbing, self-help books, or willpower can take away the veil that keeps us from viewing things correctly. Our sinful nature and willful rebellion blind us, distorting our judgments and keeping us from seeing clearly. Paul says, “their minds were hardened” (2 Corinthians 3:14). We can’t see the truth because our sin keeps us from seeing it.
Though we can’t fix our problem, Paul tells us who can. “For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:14).
Only through Christ is the veil removed. Only when we turn to Christ, can we understand our great need. Only when we turn to Christ can we see his great gift.
Just as God’s glory shone through Jesus, when we believe, God’s glory shines through us. The more we look at Jesus, turning our hearts to him and surrendering our wills to him, the more we become like him. The transformation is glorious! Everyone around us sees Jesus in us.
So we live for Jesus, through the power of Jesus, to show Jesus to the world.
Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins and rising again in power. Turn my heart and my mind toward you. Remove the veil, so that I can see clearly. Transform me into your likeness. May your name be glorified. Amen.
Go Deeper — Today, look through a dirty window, mirror or windshield. Remind yourself that sin smudges our life-view.
Photo Credit: Ümit Bulut