Being Transformed

“They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chisled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (the Message)
Moses was allowed to enter the presence of God, a privilege not everyone was able to have in his time. There were trips to the mountain that would last 40 days and 40 nights, one of those trips he asked God to see His Glory. While Moses wasn’t allowed to see God’s face, he did see God’s back. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai the skin of his face glowed because he had been speaking with God. He was transformed; his appearance was altered after encountering God. Paul in 2 Corinthians tells us that we have unveiled faces, shining with the brightness of God’s face. The glory is ever increasing. We never leave the presence of God. We never come down the mountain because God’s presence is in us. His Spirit lives within us. Because God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the price fulfilling all the offerings and laws God told Moses. Through Jesus we have been set free from the law of sin and death. We are free- not to sin, but to enjoy God in our lives. Because of that freedom we are being transformed. God is transforming us, not in the future or the past, but daily. When you spend time in God’s presence, you are transformed into His likeness. Every day of your life, get in God’s presence as soon as possible and stay there for as long as possible. God is seeking to transform you into His image and He wants to do so with ever increasing glory. He wants to be able to see the radiance of His glory; He wants you to radiate His glory to the world around you. Are you in God’s presence daily? What can you do to be in His presence at each moment?