Living With Unveiled Hearts

 

By Joe Chesser       The older I get, the more amazed I become at the depth of God’s word. What’s more, the deeper I dig into Scripture, the more I realize there is so much more to learn. I rarely read a passage from the Bible without thinking that I’ve never noticed that before. Of course, that could be attributed to getting older and more forgetful. But, whatever the reason, reading Scripture is exciting.     Recently my wife and I were reading 2 Corinthians 3. In that chapter the Apostle Paul was expressing how honored and confident he felt to be preaching about Christ and the new covenant Jesus introduced to the world (2 Corinthians 3.4-6). This was quite a switch from what he had once believed.     As you may recall, Paul (or Saul of Tarsus) had become renown as a fierce defender of the Old Law, even to the point of persecuting the followers of Jesus (Acts 9.13-14, 21).  As a youth he had a promising future among the Jews. He was educated and molded “according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers” by Gamaliel, a highly respected leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 22.3; 5.34). As a young man, Paul was dedicated to eliminating believers in Jesus, even in cities beyond Jerusalem (Acts 22.4-5).     However, all of that dramatically changed when Jesus appeared to him in a vision on his way to Damascus with letters to persecute more Christians (Acts 22.5-16). Jesus knew Paul’s heart, and had a greater work in mind for him than what he was currently pursuing. It was time for Saul of Tarsus to become Paul the Apostle; it was time to be born again and to become a witness for Jesus. Instead of trying to put Christians to death, Paul was now teaching everyone how to be born again and to live for Jesus!     For that to happen, this new disciple of Jesus had to be taught to change his view of two very important concepts: the Old Law which he learned to  call “the ministry of death” and the teachings of Jesus which he described as “the ministry of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3.7-8).     In 2 Corinthians 3 you can sense the depth of his change of attitude regarding the Old Law and the new Law of Christ as he compared the Old Law with the new one. • The old one was written on tablets of stone while the new one is written on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3.3). • Previously his sufficiency came from himself (Philippians 3.4-6); now his sufficiency came from God (2 Corinthians 3.5). • The letter (Old Law) kills; but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians3.6b). • The Old Law came with glory, but that glory was intended to only be temporary (fading) and would eventually die; thus it was the ministry of death. In contrast, the ministry of the Spirit came with a permanent, unfading glory that will never die  (2 Corinthians 3.7-11). • The old one was called the ministry of condemnation; the new one called the ministry of righteousness would far exceed the old one (2 Corinthians 3.9). • What once had glory had come to have no glory at all because of the glory that surpassed it       (2 Corinthians 3.10). • The Israelites’ minds were hardened because of the veil that remained unlifted when they read the old covenant; only through Christ is the veil taken away. When one turns to the Lord the veil is removed (2 Corinthians 3.12-16). • Removing the veil from our minds and hearts will allow us to see the glory of the Lord and allow him to transform our lives from death to a life of freedom (2 Corinthians 3.17-18).     As zealous as Paul was towards the Old Law, he allowed Jesus to liberate him from slavery to the law of condemnation and death. He allowed the Lord to lift the veil that had for so long kept him from seeing the truth of the Spirit and the freedom and glory and life that Jesus came to give.     That was Paul. Now, what about you? 2 Corinthians 3 confronts us with some profound insights and questions regarding the covenant of Jesus, the transformative power of the Spirit, boldness in Christ, freedom from legalism, and the unfading glory we can have through the Lord. • Is it possible that the laws of God are written somewhere other than on your heart? • Does the legalistic letter of the law still kill? Does the Spirit still give life? • It is possible that your sufficiency comes from yourself (what you can know and do) rather than from God (what He empowers you to learn and do)? Do you boast about knowing the will of God more perfectly than some others do? Does your confidence before God depend upon how many times you attend church services, how much you give, or on how many mission trips you may have taken? • Is it possible that a veil is covering your mind preventing you from seeing clearly the gospel of Jesus? Is your heart hardened to certain portions of the word of God?  Or, have you allowed Jesus to lift that veil allowing you to be transformed to enjoy the freedom the Lord offers? • Is the “god of this world” (Satan) blinding your mind, or are you, with an unveiled mind, beholding “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4.3-4)?     I have no particular person in mind by asking these questions. I am accusing/judging no one. However, if you have read to this point there is a good chance you are taking these thoughts personally and seriously. My hope and prayer is that every one of us will rip the veils of traditions, false doctrines, personal preferences and apathy off of our minds and open our hearts to the transformative power of the gospel of Jesus and live boldly and victoriously for Him every day!!     And may we never get to the point where we are no longer interested in digging deeper into Scripture!

Joe Chesser worked for years with the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. Now retired from Z time preaching, he may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com