"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory another; for this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor.3.18 RSV). "And because there is no veil over the face, we all see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord" (REB) "We are transfigured in ever-increasing splendour into his own image" (Phillips) 2 Cor.3 refers to Moses coming face to face with God's glory on Mount Sinai. It was when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Israel immediately broke the second commandment when they 'compelled' Aaron to make the golden calf. After condemning Israel's action, Moses returned to the top of the mountain to intercede with God on behalf of that sinful nation. This was at the time when the Law Covenant was being established and Moses requested that he should see the Lord. God said that no one could see Him and live but Moses was permitted to see something of 'glory of God.' The result was that his face permanently shone so that it was too painful for the people of Israel to look at him. From that time Moses wore a veil over his face when he spoke to the people and removed the veil when he met God in the 'tent of meeting'. Paul uses that record to illustrate what is happening to God's people now as they are changed from 'one degree of glory to another' until they are like Him and ready to stand in His presence. This is the process of 'sanctification' made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus through whom God reconciled us to Himself.

It is not easy to define 'the Glory of the Lord'? The Oxford Concise Dictionary has eight definitions of glory that include ‑ renown, honour, praise, resplendent majesty, and exaltation.

The writer to the Hebrews opens his letter with these thoughts ‑ "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many ways by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son who he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being and he sustains all things by his powerful word." (Heb.1.1-3 NRSV). So Jesus has given us the best example of the glory of God in His life and death. Whatever He said or did conveyed to us something of God's glory. No one, before or since has been able to show us that glory as He did. In the Gospel records of those three and a half years of our Lord's life, there shines the glory of God that eclipses all else. What He said and what He did provide the conclusive revelation of God. The prophets, from Abraham to John the Baptist, had given humanity glimpses of God's light which somewhat relieved the gloom of sin but Jesus flooded the world and described Himself as the "light of the world' (John 8.12). Mankind are in darkness and did not recognise the light. (John 1.7-10). To the extent that God's people reflect the life of Jesus, in words and actions, attitudes and feelings, they too are the light of the world (Matt.5.14-16).

It is worth examining the lives and characters of the great heroes of Old and New Testament. They discovered a little of God's character as they served Him. Their revelation of God and His purpose was limited but their lives were not primarily about intellectual knowledge. Of first importance to them was the defensive strength of their God who was so good and compassionate and forgiving. They discovered that the great Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ was quite unlike the gods of human imagination. His life and teachings were also very different from the conception of God held by first century Jews.

Moses' experience on Mount Sinai was used by Paul in 2 Cor.3.18 to illustrate how a child of God is changed into the likeness of Christ. It is surprising that Moses was able to look at the Glory of God that made his face to shine but the people of Israel could not even look at the lasting imprint of that glory.

Paul's experience on the Damascus road has similarities with Moses' experience on Sinai. Paul's companions "heard the voice but saw no one" (Acts 9.7). Later in Acts Luke recorded that they "saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking" (Acts 22.9) and in Acts 26.13 we read "I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun shining around me and my companions". It would be interesting to know why Luke recorded differences each time he described the scene of Paul's conversion. It would be even more interesting to know why different people have different perceptions as to what was happening? Could it be that sin has some kind of preventative action against receiving God's glory because that glory is linked to the moral qualities of God's character?

There are a number of records in the Bible of God's people having close meetings with God but not all appear to have had the kind of experience of Moses and Paul. Abraham and Sarah entertained 'angels' and learned from them that they were to have a child, Isaac. Then Abraham went for a walk with His visitors, one of whom he addressed by the name of LORD (Yahweh) and learned something about God's mercy in judgment. Jacob saw angels on the stairway and later wrestled with one angel. This assured him that God was with him and was more than equal to every situation that Israel would experience. The people of Israel saw the cloud and fire that protected and led them through the desert to the Promised Land. Samuel, David, Elijah and Jeremiah appear to have had very close encounters with God. Daniel and John saw apocalyptic visions that indicated something that was to happen later in history. Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain and Peter's account of it (2 Pet.1.16-19) makes an interesting comparison with the Gospel records in Matt.17.1-8; Mk.9.2-7; Lk.9.28-36. They were key figures in the Church at Pentecost. The sight of the glorified Lord and the sound of the voice from heaven were indelibly etched into their minds and strengthened their faith. Stephen saw "the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God", and this upheld him in the moment of martyrdom.

Jeremiah was able to reveal something of God's character in Jer.9.23-26 when he wrote "Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the might boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight says the Lord." Paul referred to this text in his first letter to Corinth (1.31). To a wayward young king who was Josiah's grandson Jeremiah said "He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the Lord."

The importance of all this to us is that God's glory is changing us into His likeness. The work of sanctification demands unyielding obedience, total consecration and the willingness to allow God to change us from sinful sons of Adam into His glorious likeness. It may seem that we are not making progress and we are very conscious of the flaws in our characters but it is God that is scrutinising our character, covered by the merit of Christ's cleansing blood (1 John 1.7-9). Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus and not on our own faulty lives ‑ acknowledging our Saviour's life saving sacrifice for us (1 John 1.9). Above all, however privileged we are in knowing about what God is doing, the Scriptures teach us that knowing God Himself is what is really important in the process of becoming like Him.

DN