2nd.Corinthians 3:4-18 "And such trust have we through CHRIST to GOD-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of GOD; WHO also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the SPIRIT: for the letter killeth, but the SPIRIT giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the SPIRIT be rather glorious ? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope. we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in CHRIST. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the LORD, the vail shall be taken away. Now the LORD is the SPIRIT: and where the SPIRIT of the LORD is, there is liberty. 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."
Consider the astounding wonder of the life cycle of a bullfrog. These frogs lay their eggs in water, and eventually tiny tadpoles emerge. The tadpoles grow and develop, being perfectly designed to live totally submerged in water. The tadpole gets oxygen from gills and propels itself through the water with its powerful tail. Then the transformation begins to take place. The tail gradually gets smaller, hind feet start to develop, and later front feet emerge. The amphibian moves toward the shore, loses its tail completely, and can breathe air through fully developed lungs. Soon this frog will be catching hundreds of insects with its long sticky tongue ! We can think of other examples of metamorphosis: an ugly underwater grub changing into a winged dragonfly, or a wormlike caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly.
Yet, these amazing transformations of nature cannot compare to what GOD does in the miracle of regeneration: A lost, depraved soul is instantly transformed into a new creation. By GOD's grace, a wretched sinner (all of us) become a saint, a child of the KING, and a citizen of Heaven. "Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new" (2nd.Corinthians 5:17 pictured above). This is "the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24 pictured above). Delivered from the miry pit, he is now established on the ROCK with a new song in his mouth (Psalm 40:1-3). Moreover, this transformation continues on a daily basis: "Beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the LORD, [we] are changed into the same image from glory to glory" (v.18). Praise GOD for a changed and changing life !
As believers, we want to progress spiritually, to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST" (2nd.Peter 3:18 pictured above). We may look back and cringe at our earlier words and actions as new believers. What were we thinking ? We would never react that way now ! An athlete once remarked how much she had changed and improved, noting, "That (former) player doesn't even exist now !" We, too, can take heart that the Christian who made those initial mistakes was in the "caterpillar" stage and does not even exist now ! We are different, by GOD's grace ! May we live in the present and in the reality of truth -- "speaking the truth in love. . .grow up into HIM in all things" (Ephesians 4:15). Enjoy the wings of "butterfly" flight, and do not focus on the "caterpillar" days -- all was preparation ! Let us "be not conformed to this world" but, rather, be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind" (Romans 12:2).
We also must remember that others are going forward and changing as well. We may be offended or even horrified by a past remark that another person would never say now. We need to be longsuffering with others as well as ourselves and pray that they also may behold the glory of the LORD and be "changed into the same image from glory to glory. . .by the SPIRIT of the LORD" (v.18). May we behold HIM with the eyes of faith and a heart of adoration, knowing that this life here on Earth is a life of gradual transformation. Recognizing that our thoughts and values are molded by those with whom we associate and by what we contemplate, may we "put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him" (Colossians 3:10 pictured above). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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