Brothers & Sisters
My eyesight is getting faint every day. I can’t see and was shocked when I visited the optometrist two weeks back and she said I need ‘bifocal’ lenses and this is seriously affecting my driving at night. I hate glasses because when I grew up they use to call people with glasses “four-eyes.” Few of us see well in the dark.
The apostle Paul today wants to encourage this community of believers at Corinth in their life and witness to Jesus Christ. He tells them they have the very best type of “seeing glasses” as they look at the present world through the eyes of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
What blinds us is “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4) and his work is to deceive us and we fall into the trap. The attraction of money, power, possessions, positions and pleasure blinds us to the light of Christ gospel. We are so blinded by the things of this world; we don’t see the bigger picture.
Today is Transfiguration Sunday and we remember the experience of Jesus on the mountain with his three disciples, Peter, James and John. While there, Jesus shines like the sun, his clothes become radiant, his glory is unveiled for the three disciples to see(Mark 9:3).
While there in the light of his glory, Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus about his impending death.
In seeing this Peter blurts out “Lord, this is great, let’s build three tabernacles here and stay right here.” Peter is thinking fame and fortune. Whatever he is thinking, he is thinking the thoughts of this age. He is worshiping the god of this age right in front of Jesus. He doesn’t get the message and Matthew records that while he was still speaking, a voice from the cloud said, “This is my son…Listen to him.”(Matthew 17:5)
Our responsibility upon seeing the light is to listen to him and proclaim Him as the Lord. Paul wants the Corinthians to allow the light of God in their hearts to be visible in their association with the outsiders for whom the gospel is still veiled.
The good news is that our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ allows us to see! Regardless of our current situation, we have the light of God’s word to keep us focused and seeing clearly at all times.
We experience the glory, the brightness, and the fullness of God when we come to see Jesus as the Christ of our salvation. Our vision is made right, no need for glasses!!! Our relationship with the expressed human glory of God allows us to become “Sunbeams” reflecting light and love to the world. Now come and receive His light and glory.
May His light shine upon you.
Vuyelwa Legwale