Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Object of This Spiritual Discernment

So, what is it that the servants of the Lord see? They see a glorious vision. Would Paul have rejoiced so greatly in the fact that all could see and that all could now see constantly, if there was nothing very great to see? What is the vision that they see? They see the glory of the Lord.

Here, too, we deal with a contrast. So here, too, we deal with a twofold contrast. In contrast with what the New Testament believers see, Paul thinks of those who see nothing at all and of those who saw something but not as much as he.

He thinks of those who see nothing at all. He thinks of those who have the spirit of the world and of what they see. What did they and what do they to this day, see? They see only what the wisdom of the world can see. The world by its wisdom didn’t know God. They “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:23). That is why they crucified the Lord of glory. They didn’t understood His sufferings and the glory that should follow. They didn’t know the “secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7). Those were the very things Paul was called to impart.

What did many of the Corinthians do when Paul told them that Christ Jesus was the firstfruits of those who slept? What did they do when Paul told them that Christ, whom they had crucified, must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet, even the last enemy which is death? (see 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23-26). They sneered and scoffed. They saw no empirical evidence for the resurrection of the body. They did not wish to be so dogmatic about things that are beyond human experience.

How different then the case of Moses and the prophets. Moses knew God as the Creator. He knew God as the One who dos all things according to His will. He knew that man had sinned against God and was driven from the place of glory, even paradise. He knew the holy God as He who spoke the commandments requiring absolute obedience of man. He saw the awful majesty of God, Jehovah on Mount Sinai. He knew the promises of God to His chosen people, a promise of a glorious future. He saw afar off the vision of Him, that Prophet like himself who would come through whom the promises would be fulfilled.

In comparison with the wise men of the Greeks, Moses saw a glorious vision. The Greeks and all sinful men could see nothing but darkness. They could see no glorious future. They knew no God who controls all things; they knew no prophet who could tell us of all things; they knew no priest to sacrifice for sin; they saw no king who will be victorious over all evil.

So then, Paul stands with Moses against those of the “world.” Yet he and all New Testament believers with him see far more than Moses saw. How the true Old Testament saints longed to see that future day. Yes, they went to glory at their death. But it was glory by anticipation. It was glory in the hope of God’s promises. Moses, who saw what he saw on the mount of Sinai, came back on another mount, at a future time, this time the mount of transfiguration. He and Elijah spoke with Christ of His upcoming death at Jerusalem. It was almost as if they were saying, “We are in glory because You are going to suffer for us. Walk then, we beseech You, walk the via dolorosa to the cross.”

To Be Continued

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