Do Others See God's Light In You?

Some people are just so beautiful they take you breath away -- and I've never met anyone who can do that when there isn't an inner beauty to back it up.

Grandma was right when she said "Beauty is only skin deep" -- at least, what the world considers beautiful.



It used to be that some of the more fundamental denominations didn't believe women should wear make-up or jewelry. They thought the woman should serve as a plain frame for God's love to shine through. While I dont' think we need to be quite so extreme, I do think we often tend to pay more attention to the frame than the picture.

Many scriptures talk about the inner beauty that is supposed to shine forth.

2 Corinthians 4 talks about the treasure hidden in earthen vessels.

Jesus tells us:

"...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
  --Matthew 5:16

It was said that after Moses spent time communing with God, his face shone so brightly he couldn't be looked at.

This was a man under the old covenant. The best he could hope for was to commune with God occasionally when God initiated the contact. Even then, he had to hide himself in a cave while the glory of God passed by the opening because the great light of God's being was more than he would be able to bear.

Afterwards, the light show lasted for days before others could look Moses in the face again.

Under the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God dwelt in the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. The power of God's Spirit was so awesome that anyone just touching the Ark was killed instantly.  (Sin cannot live in the presence of God.)

Under the New Covenant, we have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice purified our earthen vessles so that now the Spirit of God can dwell in us. Under the New Covenant, we can commune with God the Father whenever we want.

So, here's my question:  What do other see when they look at you? Do they see God's light and love streaming out from the inside? Or do they just see another person like any other?

As I gazed out over the congregation this morning in church, I saw many, many beautiful people. I saw the love of God streaming from them.  And I praise God on this Easter Sunday that Jesus took my sins to the cross, died, went to Hell in my place, and in three days rose from the grave.

Praise God He lives in me!