I have been meditating on 2 Corinthians recently. The following reflection, as it has been stirring in me the last few days, has given me boldness to speak up and share Truth in many of my interactions. I’m so grateful for His Word that brings light.
Where I live, veiled faces are not strange or abnormal. Rather, they are often a sign of a woman’s modesty and the expression of her desire to please who she knows God to be. Veils vary: some cover the entire face (niqab in Arabic) but most cover just the hair (generally referred to as a hijab). As a Christian in the city, it would be strange if for me to cover my head, so unless I were to visit a more rural village, I don’t wear a veil.
But I often find myself putting on a spiritual veil.
In 2 Corinthians 3-4, Paul talks a lot about veils, and contrasts two different types. He first talks about Moses’ veil, which covered his face after his encounter with God (3:13). He says that our faces aren’t veiled anymore – rather, we are to reflect God’s glory (3:18). We are to renounce secrecy and unveil the message (4:2).
There’s a second veil – a veil that remains in the hearts and minds of those who haven’t embraced the Gospel (3:14-15). It’s only taken away in Christ (3:16).
Paul’s confident statements about his Gospel no longer being veiled is a testimony and a challenge, especially to those of us who are living in places where outright proclamation of the Gospel (4:2) isn’t necessarily favored. It becomes far too easy to fall into “secret agent” mode (despite our leaders’ consistent encouragement toward boldness and proclamation) – and we don’t “set forth the truth plainly” (4:2).
When the person I’m talking to has a spiritual veil, it’s easy to recognize that “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (4:4) – and I pray that the veil will be removed. But when I am the one veiling the message – by not opening my mouth – I am hiding a precious treasure (4:6). I am withholding truth when I don’t set it forth plainly.
“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold” (3:12). That’s what I want. I want to be so saturated with the presence of God that His glory shines in my face and my words. I want to be able to say with Paul, “If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers…” (4:3-4). Perhaps the enemy has put a veil on the minds of those who are listening – but I will not put a veil on the gospel by being afraid to speak up.
Join me in praying that we may set forth the truth plainly in all of our interactions – that we could say with confidence that those around us had a chance to hear the message of Truth.
A message that many of us needs to hear, it’s so important that people hear the truth of God’s word, and the work of Jesus Christ. I know that you are in a place where it is difficult and even dangerous to speak the truth to those whose hearts are veiled, here it isn’t like that, I pray that each of us who has a heart for the love of God and walk in the truths of Christ, no matter where we are, take each opportunity we are given to open others to a life with and in Christ.
Great insights. We all need to recognize when we are “veiling” the Gospel!
This is a challenge for many of us ! May we listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting .
Interesting meditation. I need to think about this.
You are surely in a place in the world that is in the news.
God bless you. cm