Transformed by His Glory: The God Who Changes His Children

And it came to pass, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.....And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with Him (Exodus 34: 29, 31, 32 KJV 1611).
And he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening. And behold, there talked with him two men which, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his deceased which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory and the two men that stood with him (Luke 9: 29-32 KJV 1611).
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3: 18 KJV 1611).
THE GOD WHO CHANGES HIS CHILDREN INTO HIS LIKENESS.
The book of Exodus records the movement of God's people from Tyrant Pharaoh of Egypt to the Promised Land. Bob Marley, the legendary Reggae guru, in his Exodus Album, sings in his Rastafarian culture that Exodus is the movement of Jah people. Jah is short form of the Hebrew name for for God, "Yahweh" or "Jehovah."
For those who might ask questions about heaven, in the Transfiguration episode, it is as clear as daylight that Moses and Elijah are well and alive in heaven as they presented themselves as such at the mountain of Jesus' transfiguration and talked with him about his death.
In the Exodus story, the children of Israel are at Mount Sinai and Moses is conversing with God on top of the mountain as with a friend. Yes, Moses was and is a friend of God.
After talking with God for sometime, he comes down holding two tablets of stone on which the Lord had inscripted the Law with His finger.
When the children of Israel look at Moses' face, they see that it is shining or rather, glowing. It is a fearful sight and Aaron, the priests and the elders only went when Moses called them to come. Then next, the children of Israel were given instructions. Yes, the glorious Lord is a fearful God.
So, this is our story of THE GOD WHO CHANGES HIS CHILDREN INTO HIS LIKENESS.
For sure, He says, "Let us make man in our own image" (Genesis 1: 26, 27).
For this reason, Moses had a glowing face because he had spent some time with God. Yes, when we spend time with God, people will notice the shining face, the glory of God as it transmutes us gradually into His likeness. People will see the image of God and they will fear or respect God.
But during Moses' days, the glory of God appeared on one man and it reflected on Moses' face each time he talked with God and would fade. Israel could not see the fading glory as Moses covered his face with a vail as he went back to talk to God. So, it was a temporal glory then.
Then Christ came. At the Transfiguration on the mountain, Jesus the Christ was revealed as the complete Glory of God. Those who believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Saviour are transformed into God's children (John 1: 12). This change is not temporal but permanent and forever. Paul, the ever energetic Evangelist says we now grow from one glory to another in our likeness with Christ (2 Corinthians 3: 18).
Yes, the Lord is THE GOD WHO CHANGES HIS CHILDREN INTO HIS LIKENESS. With Jesus, the change is permanent. Then we grow spiritually and begin to manifest the fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5: 22, 23).
Take note of the fact that it is the Holy Spirit who changes us from one glory to another as He teaches us (John 14: 26) and guides us (John 16: 13). Yes, the Holy Spirit is The Other Comforter who came to be with us forever (John 14: 16). He is permanently with us. We can either obey Him or disobey Him. And how is the LORD inviting us in our story?
As usual, the LORD is calling us to Himself like He did to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3: 1-4). He is calling us in this story so that we can see Him at close range as THE GOD OF GLORY, THE GOD WHO COMES DOWN, THE GOD OF THE TESTIMONY and THE FEARFUL GOD. And what is our response to the invitation?
Our response is to accept by faith that He is the glorious God. Let us pray for humility to be just like God who comes down to His people to be with them and to share His glory with them. Let us ask for the filling of the Holy who will help us to achieve that which we aspire to be, to be as glorious as God. Let us serve and continue to serve God wholeheartedly, fearfully and grow from one glory to another in service. Let us go into service together with Jesus because JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE GLORY OF GOD. Let us preach about this glorious God to the world so that more and more people will also receive this glory. Let us spend time with God on the Mountain of study, reflection and doing the Word of God so that when we come down from that mountain, people we see our attractive and shining faces.
{Enjoy the Extra Reflection and good afternoon! RJG IN THE MASTER''S SERVICE}.