Have you ever stayed home because you weren’t looking or feeling your best? Perhaps you were looking pale and radiating sickness. We’ve all had those days where we weren’t projecting our best. At the other end of the scale, I’m sure you can recall those times where you put effort into looking your best. Perhaps this was for a wedding, job interview or some other very important occasion. Your workplace might even have a dress code because they want their representatives to look nice and professional.
One day, GOD will dress you up to your utmost as you go out and represent Him and His kingdom. On this day, your appearance will be gloriously better than even your best day on Earth. When you stand in the presence of GOD, your glorified body will soak up and radiate His glorious light.
We get a glimpse of this truth in Exodus as we read what happened to Moses’ face when he spoke with the Lord inside of a dense cloud.
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.” Exodus 34:29-30 NIV
It is important to accentuate the gift and privilege it is to stand in the presence of GOD. The bible tells us that mere human beings with their earthly bodies cannot stand in God’s presence because they would die. GOD told Moses;
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Exodus 33:20
This is why GOD provided a cloud when He spoke with Moses. It acted as a barrier to protect Moses. And still, even though Moses was in a dense cloud, the holiness of Almighty GOD shone through the cloud and changed Moses’ appearance.
How glorious then, will the Saints appear, who, with glorified bodies, stand in the immediate presence of the Great I Am with no barrier or covering?
“They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:4-5 NIV
On Earth, Christian’s souls are diamonds in the rough. We are rough cut, opaque stones that need cutting and polishing in order to reflect the character of Jesus. Jesus is the master jeweler, He makes the right cuts, removes the flaws and shapes us. Unfortunately, most of us are stubborn and we don’t polish easily. But GOD is faithful, and after a lifetime of work, with His eye on the final result, He brings our souls home to Heaven. We experience the final cut and polish when we receive our glorified bodies. Then, we will be brilliant diamonds, fully capable of reflecting the glory of GOD. His light will shine through us better than it ever did. This light and glory shining through us is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Wherever we move and travel in eternity, we will radiate the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Jesus even prayed that we would be in His immediate presence and see His beautiful and perfect inner qualities.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:24
Reflection
I encourage you to continue reading in John 17 and meditate on the rest of Jesus prayer as He speaks about His desire to be connected with you in a close intimate relationship— even today and even in this moment.