M-G: 3.28.20 // Radiance

Radiance

is a supernatural photic reflection of the face

 of a spiritually regenerated believer 

being in the presence of the glory of God.

It was on April Fool’s Day; I was walking through the front entrance of a church with the 1730-sun to my back. The rays of the sun were blazing through the entrance doors and the huge windows above it. A man was passing by and looked up at me, making a visor with his hand as the light was drenching him as if standing beneath a waterfall. So, in that shaft of light, I approached this man as he was being bathed and blinded by the light streaming around my body.

I seized the moment to be humorous as I reached out to shake his hand, “I’m so sorry!” I said. “Without my veil, I usually have that effect on people whenever I make an entrance! April Fool’s day!” I quickly realized that my sense of humor was greatly unappreciated. I thought to myself, “So much for me being lighthearted!”

Do you remember when Moses was on Mount Sinai to receive the second tablets (cf. Ex 32:19; 34:4)? He had requested to see the glory of Yahweh (Ex 33:18), but Moses was informed that he could not look upon the face of Yahweh and live (Ex 33:20). All Moses could do was see the back of Yahweh (Ex 33:23). Moses had no idea that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him (Ex 34:29).

When Moses came back down from off the Mount, they (Aaron and the children of Israel) were afraid to come near him (Ex 34:30). Also fresh on their mind was what happened the first time he came down the Mount and broke the original tablets of the Decalogue over the Golden Calf incident (cf. Ex 32:28, 35). Now Moses descends from the Mount with a new set of tablets and his face was aglow! The look of Light on the face of Moses caused fear and trepidation. Clearly, the people were uncomfortable around Moses.

Moses would keep his face covered except for when he spoke to Yahweh or gave further instructions to the people from Him. It reminded the people that he had the backing of the Light. What if we earnestly prayed to Yahweh as Moses,

…let me see Your glory (Ex 33:18),

or, David,

Make Your face shine on Your servant, and teach me Your statutes (Psa 119:135; cf. Psa 80:3, 7).

Spending time in fellowship with Yahweh and in His Word reflects a perception to others that we had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13b); darkness reveals that we have not. Jesus declared that we are the light of the world (Mt 5:14). This is only possible through spiritual regeneration,

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8; cf. Col 1:13; 2 Cor 4:6).

It makes sense what Jesus commanded,

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Mat 5:16).

Walking in the Spirit has the backing of the Light (Gal 5:16). Holiness radiates its own kind of light. People may fear the face of God or even tremble to speak or write His name, but this is not reverence but a testament of a religion that is non-relational with Yahweh. The same people who feel and think that way also believe that their traditions are more important than the Word of God itself (cf. Mk 7:9)! They reject God’s only Son, Jesus, as the true Messiah. 

When people witness light radiating from personal holiness (Gal 5:16), it should reflect that Jesus lives within us for our talk and walk have the backing of the Light! We cannot be in practical fellowship with God apart from holiness. Sadly, love for the Word, which is the standard of God’s holiness, is often replaced by the things of this world. Let’s state the obvious here; darkness cannot glorify Yahweh.

(1Jn 1:5) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

 (1Jn 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

(1Jn 1:7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

This walk in 1 Jn 1:7 is not a leisurely stroll in the park but a pre-determined lifestyle of holiness regardless of the circumstances of life; we are purposely living in the light whether there is a headwind or a tailwind. But this is not according to what you and I think that standard of light to be; it is according to as He is in the light. It produces fellowship with other like light-bearers (as He is in the light), but it is also resulting in purity before God and fellowship with Him, the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

This reminds me of something Chuck Swindoll once said (though he didn’t associate it with this passage above), “Most Christians are uncomfortable with genuine Christianity.” There is something about being aglow that makes believers dabbling in darkness and unbelievers uncomfortable!

Moses had nothing to do with his radiant glow. It had everything to do with his exposure to the Divine presence! Had he not been exposed to the presence of Yahweh he would not have radiated a glow from God’s shekinah glory. If Yahweh shielded Moses to prevent him from being consumed by His radiant glory, imagine being in a glorified state and forever in the radiance of the visible majesty of Yahweh!

The day is coming, my friends of the Light, when an unknown spectrum of light that cannot be measured or looked upon in a non-glorified state will be unleashed before our very eyes in eternity. In His light, we shall see light. There will be no darkness! Until then, when we are holy as He is holy, there is a degree of radiance simply being in the presence of Yahweh here on earth. That fellowship pours over into fellowship with others walking in the light as He is in the light.

Is our lifestyle leaning toward the dark or light side of things? Have we been spending time in the presence of Jesus or just too busy doing our own thing? Walking in the light (practicing the truth) as He is in the light sets us aglow, separating us from the darkness around us. Others will see it before we notice it! It is a quality of luminescence that tells others that you and I have been with Jesus. It is clearly not perceived as a self-righteous projection but an authentic difference.

When the desire of our hearts reaches an insatiable longing to be with Jesus, our face will be set aglow as when we first came to know Him, and our light will shine supernaturally. Conversely, when we are walking in darkness, we are not practicing the truth, and there is no trace of radiance.

Practicing the truth of God’s Word is letting our light so shine before men that God may be glorified. When we have this desire to be like Him, we must remember that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. The source of radiance is holiness as He is holy. <><

And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him [Stephen], saw his face as the face of an angel (Act 6:15).