"...We are being transfigured into his very image..." 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT)

Discernment is like the sense of smell.  When any of our natural senses are compromised or when we have a lack of knowledge about what our senses are telling us for we can lose our spiritual integrity of comprehending what the Lord is saying or where He is taking us.

In the Old Testament Moses had a veil over His face:

“We are not like Moses, who used a veil to hide the glory to keep the Israelites from staring at him as it faded away.” 2 Corinthians 3:13 (TPT)

The people had hardened hearts, their minds were closed so could not hear the voice of the Lord for themselves because the Lord had hardened them from hearing.

“Their minds were closed and hardened, for even to this day that same veil comes over their minds when they hear the words of the former covenant. The veil has not yet been lifted from them, for it is only eliminated when one is joined to the Messiah.” 2 Corinthians 3:14 (TPT)

So the question is “what is the veil?” and “why was it put there in the first place?”  In many ways, this goes back starting in Exodus 4 where God was hardening Pharaoh’s heart.

We see God actively moving in hardening Pharaoh’s heart. And we also see the clear responsibility of Pharaoh in the matter, as he hardens his own heart.

How did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? God simply revealed himself. He revealed his power, supremacy, love for his people, hatred of sin, etc.. through the signs and wonders of the plagues. It was this revelation of God that hardened his heart.

Some say it is not fair that God hardened his heart. God revealed and showed himself to Pharaoh through the signs and plagues. It was this revelation that hardened his heart. It is a biblical axiom that revelation devoid of illuminating grace hardens sinful hearts. 

It was said by Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

“The same sun which melts wax hardens clay.  And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins”. 

“So until now, whenever the Old Testament is being read, the same blinding comes over their hearts.” 

2 Corinthians 3:15 (TPT)

Without grace, there is no change of heart.  Everything that the Lord speaks is full of grace and truth, and it takes the discernment of the Lord to receive His words.  This is why Jesus said:

“So listen and understand what I’m telling you.” 

Matthew 11:15 (TPT)

Or in other words “Anyone who has ears to hear, let him hear,” an idiom that means “You’d better listen!” Open your spiritual ears of understanding for your Messiah is standing in front of you and speaking the truth of God to you, discern what I am telling you. 

“But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see.”

2 Corinthians 3:16 (TPT)

The veil is a spirit which blinds a person and keeps one from seeing or comprehending the grace of the Lord.  It is only when the Lord himself intervenes that this spirit is removed and blind eyes begin to see, and ears become unstopped to hear and see the grace of the Lord.  

Consider Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9.  Some have said Paul was struck by lightning, but when you look at the result of Paul’s change (or conversion) you find there was much more happening here than just lightning, there was an intervention by the Lord himself into the life of Paul that profoundly changed Him for the rest of his natural life.  

A fully demonstratable act of mercy on behalf of the Lord by demonstrating to Paul that his physical blindness was manifested by his spiritual blindness.  The natural speaks of the spiritual.

Another example is the man who was born blind who was healed by His Messiah.

The healed man replied, “I have no idea what kind of man he is. All I know is that I was blind and now I can see for the first time in my life!” John 9:25 (TPT)

Paul is now referring to the Holy Spirit as the one who is ruling, speaking to us, and convincing us of truth in us, bringing healing and restoration, and freedom.

“Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 (TPT)

And now to today’s verse:

“We can all draw close to him with the veil removed 

from our faces.”

That veil was a spirit of darkness (or blindness) which can easily keep us from seeing deeper truth in Christ Jesus if our hearts are hardened from going deeper with Jesus.  

Jesus is our treasure in this life and our reason for being. Everything that we personally learn about Him is designed to take us deeper in relationship with Him to know the depths and heights of His love for us if we are willing to make that journey with Him.

“And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly 

reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus”

Paul recognized that with the spirit of darkness (blindness) removed our natural state with Jesus is to reflect His glory.  This is not done through works, this is done through abiding in Him.  

How glorious it is to become like a mirror reflecting the very nature and presence of our creator.

“We are being transfigured into his very image as we 

move from one brighter level of glory to another.”

Glory is emanating the brilliance of God Himself in His natural state, that is what we reflect as we behold Jesus.  

Paul says we are being transfigured into His very image which is a remarkable statement, and what makes this even more incredible is we move from one brighter level of glory to another this walk with Jesus is progressive, not static. 

“And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, 

who is the Spirit.” 

Like I said previously this isn’t about works, this is about a relationship with Jesus and abiding in Him.

Paul makes a compelling case for an ongoing relationship with Jesus, as it is continuous and ever-growing by knowing Jesus and participating with Him in this growth process. 

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, discernment is not anything we learn, it is caught through an abiding relationship with Jesus, He brings clarity, vision, and understanding as we seek Him, not as we seek discernment in itself, that is a by-product of the relationship with Jesus.

May you always be hungry for more of Jesus, and may that desire propel you forward to hearing Him and seeing Him more and more in your own life and the lives of others.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett

Creativity is our call, restoration is our purpose!
(Genesis 1:26-28) & (Matthew 28:19-20)