on not fearing God but shining his light

the history and future of revelation

introduction 

I know a young man who has recently expressed in his small group that he feels as if he is lazy in his spiritual life. He wants to grow closer to God, through spiritual discipline, but feels unable to rouse the enthusiasm required.

I’ve wondered about this sentiment because it is not unknown to me in my spiritual life, and I imagine that it is not unknown to many gathered here this morning. What is it about ourselves that hinders us in our attempts to draw close to God? Lethargy? Apathy? Fear, perhaps?

These questions bring to mind a poetic quote which is often mistakenly attributed to Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech in 1994. It is actually an excerpt from a book by Marianne Williamson entitled, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. This is not a book that I recommend, as it reflects New Age philosophy rather than Christian spirituality, but this possibly-familiar quote has a ring of truth about it:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

There is much in this quotation that rings true of Christian faith and spirituality, although not intended to. We are children of God. We are meant to shine, to manifest the glory of God; everyone of us, not just some.

This call to shine the light of God from within us is a direct consequence of the transfiguration of Jesus.

a short history of God’s revelation

Together, the assigned readings draw our attention to the biblical teaching on, and the history of, the revelation of God, fallen humanity’s inability to respond to that revelation, and the culmination of that revelation in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

In the stage of humanity history represented by the book of Genesis, God was present in and accessible to his creation. With the fall, God spent much less time amongst his creation on Earth, but his eternal power and divine nature were still visible enough that we might worship God, even though we continued to rebel against him.

Through the lifetimes of Noah, Abraham and Moses, God chose to reveal himself more fully to particular individuals, so that they might reveal him to the people.

In our reading from the Pentateuch book of Exodus is recounted a description of Moses’ face after having been in the presence of God. Moses enjoyed extended periods with God, on mountainsides as well as in the Tent of Meeting. We can barely imagine what such encounters with God must have been like for Moses.

After these meetings, the face of Moses apparently shone, even though he himself did not know of it. How could he not know that his face was emitting light? Easily, since he had already been in the midst of such light for an extended period of time. Thus, as he left the mountainside, the lighting, for him, did not change.

I hesitate to mention that I have experienced a similar situation, although to a much lesser degree. Early in my Christian life I enjoyed particularly overwhelming encounters with God in my personal devotion. At this time I lived in Stoney Creek, a semi-rural suburb on the outskirts of the city of Hamilton. On my way home from work one evening, riding my bicycle along the dark roads towards my home, I was surrounded by an incredible light, that I knew in my heart was the presence of God. An aspect of that experience that still fascinates me is that the road in front of me was not actually lightened by the light I experienced. That’s not a theological comment, but simply a recognition of the supernatural aspect of the light of God as it was revealed to me at that time.

Anyway, the light from Moses’ face was certainly noticeable to his brother, Aaron, and to the people of Israel. Verse 29 of Exodus 34 tells us that, “Aaron and all the Israelites [... ] were afraid to come near [Moses after he had been in the presence of God]”. Why would they be afraid to come near Moses? Because of the light shining from his face.

I guess that this is understandable. If any of us, walking down the street, noticed a person whose face emitted an unexpected glow, we too might take a second look and perhaps veer as far away from the person as possible. Would we respond the same way if we knew the person? Quite likely. While ‘the eyes are a window to the soul’, we don’t normally expect lights to be shining out of them, after the fashion of the character Cyclops, made famous by The X-Men franchise. But what about the alleged glow of pregnant women? This glow is admirable and attractive; so why should we be afraid of the light of God obvious on a person’s face?

But there is more to this fear. Exodus 20:18-21 describes trumpets, thunder, lightning and smoke as God declares the Ten Commandments in the presence of the people. Perhaps of such a demonstration we could reasonably be afraid. Indeed, earlier in 19:21, God specifically warned the people not to come onto the mountain while he reveals his presence. So, understandably, the people shrink back in fright and ask Moses to be their mediator because they believe that they will die if they come too close to God’s presence.

They believe that they will die. How absurd! Did not Jesus himself declare, “I came that they may have life” (John 10:10b)? God is about life, not death. Of course, he does want to make sure that the people appreciate his holiness and sovereignty, but that does not explain why the people are filled with fear at the light of God shining on Moses’ face.

The people fear God. The apostle John tries to explain their fear when he points out that “all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed” (3:19-21). So, rather than being drawn to the light of the revelation of God, they force Moses to wear a veil over his face so that they do not have to see the light of God shining from him. Hold on! Did I just say that they forced Moses to wear a veil? That’s not what the passage says, is it? We’ll come back to that point in a minute.

transfiguration as revelation confirmed

Whereas God revealed the glory of his power and nature, to much fanfare, on the mountain in the presence of the ancient Israelites, through his mediator Moses, he reveals his glory in the person of Jesus, for the benefit of all his creation. For Christians, throughout history, the transfiguration acts as a confirmation of Jesus’ glory, that is his power and his identity.

Indeed, the apostle Peter, one of three disciples present to witness Jesus’ transfiguration, declares that he “did not follow cleverly devised myths when [I and the other apostles] made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty [...] We ourselves heard [the voice of God] come from heaven, while we were with [Jesus] on the holy mountain” (2 Peter 1:16ff). Peter is here indicating that his message about Jesus is confirmed by Jesus’ transfiguration.

Thus, we can say that, while the historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection proves the power and nature of God and the existence of an eternal life, Jesus’ transfiguration proves that he is indeed the revelation of God, in his fulness.

disappointing rejection

While we may be surprised at the response of the ancient Israelites towards God, the apostle Paul, we will discover, was clearly disappointed that his contemporaries were not open to hearing the gospel of Jesus and he likens this to the veil of Moses:

¹²Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, ¹³not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. ¹⁴But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. ¹⁵Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; ¹⁶but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

¹Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2).

Paul’s language expresses deep frustration with the seeming inability of his contemporaries to accept the gospel of Jesus. Rather than responding with fear, Paul encourages the people to boldness.

The ancient Israelites witnessed the glory of God, but were afraid because they thought they would die (:14-15). Peter was also a witness to the glory of God, revealed by Jesus. Yet, despite his ancestors, Peter was not afraid; he was confused, babbled ridiculously, was reluctant to mention this great event until much later, but he was not afraid. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter would declare with boldness the gospel of Jesus (cf :12). Fear is certainly not the only possible or reasonable response to the glory of God.

transformation rather than fear

Peter was transformed from a bumbling, hard-headed fisherman into a great evangelist and leader in the early Church. His is an example of the transformation that could result if we would just set aside our fear of God and instead approach Jesus in faith.

Because of our fallenness, we all wear a figurative veil across our faces that, instead of hiding the glory of God we have seen, prevents us from seeing the glory of God. When we approach God through Jesus, the veil is lifted and the light of God both streams into our lives and overflows out from our lives. We are freed into life everlasting (:18) by the Spirit of God! We are transformed.

Thus, insofar as the light of God pours in us and transforms us into the likeness of Jesus, that same light will and must overflow. This fact is an expression of our mission in the world. Moses was not forced to put the veil on his face; he chose to hide the glory he witnessed because of some misguiding sense of wanting to protect the people. He thought that he was doing them a favour, but, in so doing, he limited the people’s access to God and hindered a valuable demonstration of his glory.

In contrast, our mission is to openly reveal God’s glory in our lives, to boldly demonstrate the transformation that God has wrought within us. Has God made a difference in your life? Has he made your life worth living? With boldness declare the hope that you have in the gospel of Jesus!

will you be rejected?

Will sharing the reason for the hope that you have be received well by your neighbours? Not necessarily; most likely not.

The veil across the face of some people is thick, blocking out the light, and it is comfortable, protecting them from the God who, they mistakenly believe, will destroy them for their evil deeds. While they are correct that the Sovereign and Holy God would be completely justified in punishing and destroying us, they do not realise that

¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

¹⁷“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).

If they would just draw near to Jesus, they would see him for who he is: that he is the glory of God revealed, the grace and love and mercy of God incarnate, the Good Shepherd who leads us beside still waters and provides us with abundant and eternal life.

conclusion & response

Perhaps it is a consequence of our fallenness that we fear God. Because we are ashamed of our evil deeds, we run away from the light of God, from his piercing and discerning gaze. He will see us for who we are. He will know what we have done. He will be angry with us. The history of humanity is rife with the consequences of our inability to overcome our fear and shame and run into the wide-open arms of the God of grace, compassion, mercy, love, kindness ...

Yet, sometimes even after we believe in and confess our love for the God revealed by and in Jesus, we still shudder with fear at drawing too close to him. Friend, let me remind you that there is nothing to fear. God calls us to come into his light, to be filled with it, and to boldly shine it for all the world to see. In that light there is warmth, there is beauty, there is transformation. You can become all that God intended for you when he created you. Step fully into his love and light.

If we can overcome our fear of God, then what do we have to fear of our neighbours? Our lives of faith and love will commend themselves to those around us, and while they may dismiss us at first or, worse, discriminate against us, the Spirit and light of God can and will break through.

Let us pray that we would know God fully, and that we would make him fully known:

What an awesome God you are! You bring wholeness out of brokenness, health out of sickness, forgiveness out of sin and life out of death. On this Transfiguration Sunday, we remember when your glory was revealed to Peter and James and John. Imagine their wonder and fear and awe when before their eyes, in Jesus, they saw you, O God. We have seen your glory too, loving God, maybe not in such a dramatic way, but we have seen your glory in nature, in lives changed, in the faces of loved ones. We have seen your glory revealed in massive sanctuaries, tiny chapels and in hospital rooms and cemeteries. We have seen your glory as people say yes to you ... as acts of compassion multiply into whole movements. We have seen people of all races, cultures, and backgrounds raise their voices in song to you. You are indeed, a glorious, awesome God. Peter and James and John saw it and we see it too. Amen.

sermon delivered by Ian Forest-Jones
at Hurstville Church of Christ
on Sunday, 18 February 2007 at 10am
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