2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This verse seems to have such deep meaning. All throughout the bible it refers to the glory of God. And over and over again it says that Jesus is the glory of the Father. Jesus Himself said that no one has seen the Father at any time. Yet He also said that if we see Him, we are seeing the Father. So what we are beholding is Jesus, Who is a mirror image of the Father whom no one has seen except the Son. And we are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Jesus.
If you read Ezekial 1, Ezekial has a vision of the Lord. Verse 1-28 descibe the unbelievable and magestic appearance of the Lord. Then at the end, in verse 28, he says "...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."
If you read this chapter and then flip to Revelation 4 you will find this image of the Lord is almost identical to the one that John had when he visited heaven. There John writes:
"1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
" Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 " You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."
And my favorite verse in the bible:
Revelation 5:11-14
"1 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
" Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
" Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever."
How amazing is it that man, simple human man, born of the seed of Adam, born in sin and set free by the gace and mercy and blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ will one day stand before Him. We shall stand before Him who sits before the nations. Him who was and is and is to come. Him who redeemed us from the foundation of the world and sacrificed His own self for our sins. He who rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the great I AM.
This is the God we serve. This is the Savior whom has called us friends and family. This is the God who has adopted us as children into His family and placed His seal upon us. This is Him.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This verse seems to have such deep meaning. All throughout the bible it refers to the glory of God. And over and over again it says that Jesus is the glory of the Father. Jesus Himself said that no one has seen the Father at any time. Yet He also said that if we see Him, we are seeing the Father. So what we are beholding is Jesus, Who is a mirror image of the Father whom no one has seen except the Son. And we are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Jesus.
If you read Ezekial 1, Ezekial has a vision of the Lord. Verse 1-28 descibe the unbelievable and magestic appearance of the Lord. Then at the end, in verse 28, he says "...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."
If you read this chapter and then flip to Revelation 4 you will find this image of the Lord is almost identical to the one that John had when he visited heaven. There John writes:
"1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
" Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 " You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."
And my favorite verse in the bible:
Revelation 5:11-14
"1 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
" Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
" Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever."
How amazing is it that man, simple human man, born of the seed of Adam, born in sin and set free by the gace and mercy and blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ will one day stand before Him. We shall stand before Him who sits before the nations. Him who was and is and is to come. Him who redeemed us from the foundation of the world and sacrificed His own self for our sins. He who rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the great I AM.
This is the God we serve. This is the Savior whom has called us friends and family. This is the God who has adopted us as children into His family and placed His seal upon us. This is Him.