“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” Exodus 34:29
I came across an article the other day about President Ronald Reagan’s visit to my hometown in 1984. I remember this visit well as I was one of the many who lined up on the main drag through Decatur to get a glimpse of the President as he drove by in his motorcade. It only took a few seconds as I saw him wave out his window from the black protected limo. Wow! I just saw the President of the United States. It actually was a big deal back then. I think it still is to many. As everyone turned to leave you could tell we all shared a moment. Simply put... we just saw the most powerful man in the world and our lives were etched with a simple wave. I imagine if you talked with me shortly after you would have seen a glow still on my face from the experience. Maybe it was a smile or a countenance that signaled that I had seen something or been somewhere exhilarating, monumental or, using the vernacular of that day... COOL!
In our text we see that Moses had a problem hiding the fact that he had been with the Lord. His face shone because he had conversations with God. I stood in line in the hot sun waiting for a President to drive by. Moses had conversations with God! The Apostle Paul writes an incredible commentary on this in 2 Corinthians 3. Moses had to hide his face after meeting with God because it was simply too much for the people to bear. But Paul says, we who have met Jesus, who are in love with Jesus and who have Jesus living in us do not need to hide it, but instead let it shine for all to see. There is to be something different about we who know and meet regularly with Jesus. It should be so life changing that you cannot hide it. When Jesus went to the cross, He did something far more than a wave to his followers. He gave up His life. He stood in our place and three days later He conquered death and the grave so that we can live with Him now and forever. He sent us His Holy Spirit to live within us. Jesus now lives in us. He does not visit... He lives! How should this affect our countenance?
Imagine if President Reagan stopped his limo, got out and started walking towards me. As he walks, he calls out my name and says, AB, I want to go to your house. Let’s hang out and listen to Kenny Logins together. (LOL, that would have been accurate at the time.) First of all, I think I would have been speechless. Second, I sure hope my mom had the house clean and third... well let’s just say that would have changed my life forever. Now bring this into focus. Jesus didn’t stop his motorcade for you. He died for you. He rose again for you and because He loves you so much, He says, me and my Father will come and live in you, with you. The King of Glory resides in us as believers. What does that do to us?
Let us imagine again that when President Reagan is listening to “Footloose” at my house, all of the sudden he says, “You know AB, I need to give you power so you can represent me wherever you go in Decatur. From now on you are my ambassador to your hometown. (I know this is kind of a crazy illustration, but it serves a point.) That experience and transformation from a kid standing on the side of the road to a kid who now represents the most powerful man in the world would be life changing. Ok... back to reality. Paul says that whenever someone turns to the Lord, a veil is taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:16) This means they cannot hide the fact that they have been with Jesus. Where Jesus is there is everything Jesus is about – joy, love, peace and freedom! If you are living with the One who is all of these things, imagine what it should do to you. It causes us to be transformed by His love which then reflects to those around us. We become the representatives or ambassadors of His glory and power. Our experiences with Jesus should impact those around us.
If you think I have lost my marbles, go read the encounter with Zacchaeus. (Luke 19) Jesus stopped and his “walkingcade” and told Zacchaeus that He was going to his house. He does and Zacchaeus comes out of the house a different man because he had been with Jesus. Is your face shining today? Are you making the place where you work better today because of who lives inside of you? Is your time in the presence of the Lord making a difference in the lives around you? Moses’ face displayed the glory of the Lord. Ours can too. Spend time with the Lord with this devotion in mind and see how your countenance is changed.
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