"the VEIL is removed"!

2 Corinthians 3:15-18; 4:1-5         (English Standard Version)
"15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a VEIL lies over their hearts.
16 But when one turns to the Lord, "the VEIL is removed".
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we all, with unVEILed face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

"1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is VEILed, it is VEILed to those who are perishing.
4 In their case the god of this world (satan) HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVERS, to KEEP THEM FROM SEEING the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, who is the IMAGE OF GOD.
5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake."


Have you ever heard someone say "The way I see it........."?  The fact that some can SEE things one way and others SEE the "same" thing differently has puzzled many for years.  One could even argue that when JESUS walked on earth HE had some who believed that HE was the Son of GOD, but others who refused to believe and thought they would eliminate this problem from the world.  Some could see the TRUTH, yet others had the TRUTH hidden from them.

Ephesians 6:12 states "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL in the heavenly places".  Some cannot SEE the TRUTH because they choose to SEE things through their own eyes.  Those people can argue they are doing the best they can, and they would be correct.  But when "one turns to the LORD" they begin to SEE things differently!

Once "the VEIL is removed" from the eyes of a person they begin to SEE things as they really are.  We are free (v.17) to live in CHRIST (and HE in us) and be used by HIM to draw others to HIM.  We can not draw them, but HE can use us to draw others to HIM, for HIS glory!  GOD is glorified when I realize I am but a tool that HE can use for HIS purpose and glory (v.5).

But the enemy is making sure that what many see is what he desires them to see.  Until "the VEIL is removed" from their vision they will not be able to see the TRUTH, even when it is right in front of them.  Ephesians 4:4 says that the enemy "has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light" of JESUS CHRIST!  To know "the VEIL is removed" from my eyes by a loving and merciful GOD floods my soul with humility and gratitude!

John Newton wrote the lyrics of one of the most recognized songs in the world.  "Amazing Grace" has been sung by millions!  The first verse of Amazing Grace concludes with these words, "'twas blind but now I see"!  John Newton knew what it meant to have "the VEIL is removed" from his eyes.  I pray that "the VEIL is removed" from many others before JESUS returns!