Speaking to Israel through the prophet Isaiah about its recognition of the Messiah in the last days, the Lord is also speaking to each one of us, highlighting that moment when the veil of unbelief is removed from our own eyes so that we may see His great Light.
1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV)
And from the apostle Paul’s New Testament second letter to the Corinthians:
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 2 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)
I recall the moment when that happened for me. I was ten years old, and was mopping the kitchen floor, which was fairly unique in itself. It was a Friday night, possibly Good Friday, and I had just finished watching the movie “King of Kings” on television. This movie was about Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Having watched it, I regarded it as any other movie, a moving and emotional experience to be watched and then forgotten. But later, as I was mopping the floor directly in front of the kitchen sink, a realization suddenly came over me in my spirit and stopped me in my tracks:
“God is real. The movie plot was real. It really happened!”
This meant that all the stories and scriptures I had only partially heard in church for the past several years were not just stories – they were true. They really happened. And not only that, but God is also real in my life. Wow, what a concept. I remember that moment like it was yesterday these many decades later. I had experienced a measure of faith for the very first time.
The veil was removed, but only partially. It would cover my eyes again at times over the years, sometimes as a result of my own harmful choices, but God was always there. He never rejected or discarded me because of my ill-advised wanderings. He never left me, though I often tried to leave Him, at least until the next crisis came along.
Several experiences along the way drew me back to the cross of Christ. A large gathering called a revival put on by Billy Graham’s organization, led by his brother-in-law, Leighton Ford, re-ignited the spiritual fire in my spirit and helped me see Jesus as the true source of my salvation. Returning to church, I was later led by a caring and loving pastor who shared the Bible with us. Sobriety came next, following a path recommended by that pastor. A Disciple Bible study immersed us in God’s word and confirmed its continuity and life-changing power. Spiritual retreats, as both participant and facilitator, kept the fire burning. A gentle call to participate in Prison Ministry led to many more moments of walking with the Spirit “on the high hills of the earth”. More service opportunities to work alongside the Lord came in each location where we lived, some brief, others of longer duration. Each step of the way, God continued to amaze with His glory and goodness as the veil of unbelief and darkness was incrementally removed. The Lord continues to reveal Himself through the magnificence of His creation, His word in scripture, prayer, and the marvel of a multitude of “coincidental” and faith-building experiences in His kingdom.
However, many, if not most, of the people around us still live under a veil of spiritual darkness and cannot or will not see the reality of God and His Christ. Why is that?
In his second letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul explains that there is a spiritual barrier keeping many from seeing the light of Christ. It is a sobering acknowledgment that, along with God, there is an evil opposition to Him, referred to as the god of this age, with enough power to keep as many people as possible from seeing the light of life.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV)
Because of the influence of these dark powers and principalities, a deep spiritual blindness does cover many of those around us. In some, this gives rise to hopelessness and despair, leading them into a spiritual depression and even suicidal thoughts or actions. Only God can draw us out to remove of this veil of darkness from our eyes and to reveal His brilliant and hope-filled Light.
Centuries after Isaiah, Jesus spoke to His disciples about this wonderful drawing power of the Father, leading the lost and hurting to Himself. This is sometimes referred to as God’s prevenient grace, His mechanism behind our eternal salvation, leading us and revealing to us the hope we have through faith in Christ. As Jesus told them:
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44 (NKJV)
This life-giving act of the Father is strengthened and reinforced by the prayers of other believers, offered on our behalf. Intercessory prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in the battle against the spiritual opposition to God.
As the prophet Isaiah wrote, Arise, shine, for your light has come, in the person and power of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He is right here with each one of us. May the veil of unbelief be lifted to reveal more and more of His grace, mercy, goodness, and the light of His hope today.
Reflection
Is the veil of darkness being removed in your life? Have you seen the light of God arise as He begins to reveal His great love for you and the abundant goodness of His grace?
If not, may that process begin for you today. And may God bless you on your journey as you seek to discover, or re-discover, Him.
Lord, open my eyes to remove more of the veil of darkness that I may see Your great light arise around me and within me. Thank You that You are and have been with me every step of my life’s journey. Help me to surrender to Your goodness and love today, walking with You each day that You give us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Have a beautiful, blessed day walking with God today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 