THE LIGHT FROM THE GOSPEL

Exodus 34:27-35

   27 Then the LORD said to Moses, " Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. Moses' Face Shines 29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.  31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, 35 the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.

   First of all we should notice that the commandments are written by God’s own finger, which means that they are unchangeable and unshakable, - they are solid here on earth at all times, and it does not help how “modern” we have become, - it should not put these aside.
   They stand just the same as solid in this moment, as when He wrote them down on the tablets – just as unchangeable and unshakable for Jews as for Norwegians and for all mankind.
   When you see the peoples life on this background, you will also notice the seriousness. It says about king Josiah in the Scripture; - the book of laws had been lying around making dust for many years, - when the state scribe Safan came to the king and read from the book of laws to him, and it says: “When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.” (2 Kings 22:11).
   This was a sign for sorrow and terror with the Jews, - now that he heard the word, he realized his own and his peoples true condition. If the word is apart from us, we cannot see where we are going, or how our condition really is.
   And how is it really with us, a people who find more joy to get one more entertainment channel on the TV! – Just to push the limit a little. Just imagine that one day our people are going to be judged by God’s holiness requirements. How will that be? – Is there any doubt about that?
   Then you have to ask this question: How will I be? Because this is something unchangeable and totally unshakable we have ahead of us. There will be no “good natured,”- there will be no sound of: “- you are after all not a bad fellow, in spite; I guess we will adapt it in your case. No, God’s word stands firm. It will be a disaster for some, as it was for king Josiah, but thank goodness for others, as the apostle in the book of Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8).
   You see, all of God’s word stands firm. If that was not the case, who could then own their certainty of salvation? In the Catholic church or doctrine there is no certainty of salvation, you cannot know for certain, and therefore people are not set free, but is being bound by the church and the priesthood. This can happen with organizations and preachers too, so that you own your certainty of salvation through them, - if you are approved and your Christianity is recognized by them, - but true certainty of salvation has its foundation in the revelation of the Word. “Your word says so, that I will have mercy, and my sin will no longer be remembered!”
   You see, the word of the gospel is no lesser firm than the word of the law. But not more either! – All of God’s word stands firm! But, - follow me now, - the word of the law is God’s unshakable demand to you as a human being, while the word of the gospel is a word about the completely fulfilled law, yes, it is the fulfilled law.
   Can the contrast be any greater? It is quite obvious that you cannot live in these two spiritual conditions at the same time! If you live and work to fulfill commands, which Jesus already has fulfilled for you, you disallow His work, - or let’s put it this way: - You do not believe in Him! To believe in Jesus is to believe in what He has done for you, and that His deed is received by the Father as completely adequate.

   Has it started to dawn on you that the Father testifies about Jesus’ deed! Jesus Himself says: “There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true” (John 5:32).
   Here is the reason for the true certainty of salvation.

   Moses was chosen to a specific deed with the Jewish people, - he was going to give the law, - and hear how the dedication were: “So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water” (v.28a).
   We read about the same thing about Jesus, when He was baptized in the Jordan, how He of the Spirit was driven out to the desert, to fast for forty days and forty nights, - there He starts His work with driving the devil, our accuser and tempter on a flight.
   Jesus wanted us to know this, - it is of importance - it is He who has told about this event - there were no other witnesses around. So listen again: He drove the devil, our accuser and tempter on a flight! He has conquered! – Therefore He shall be our refuge!
   When you are accused of your sin, - What is Jesus saying? “Which one of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46).
   He is without sin, He your substitute, - therefore He shall be your refuge! It is Him the Father points to and testifies about.
   Has the testimony started to speak to your heart? Small glints of the glory perhaps? Then you will taste life! – And your face will start to shine; - you have been in the sight of God.
   We also read that Moses face shone, so that the Israelites saw it, but Moses covered his face.
   But what does the apostle Paul say, the preacher of the new covenant? “But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor. 3:7-17).

   Did you really hear this? – We do not do as Moses, we do not cover up. But we go forth with great boldness, says the apostle.
   Have you noticed how many who wants to throw a veil over the gospel, as soon as it starts to shine. Oh no, it must not become so free, people will just continue sinning. I ask you: Does the gospel speak about sinning to you? – That you are free to sin? What does that have to do with the gospel? – The gospel speaks about the atonement of sins, forgiveness of sins.
No, the problem - their problem - is that it is Moses who rules in their hearts and mind, - therefore they have not seen the glory in Jesus Christ countenance, as the Scripture testify. - And this problem of theirs, they spreads to others, - they cannot stand the light from the gospel! “But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” As we read in v.16.
   But as long as the veil lies over your own heart, - oh, then let us please put a veil over this light so that nobody can see it! – After all, it could be dangerous! You see, they are bound! – This gospel about Jesus Christ wounds and blood, about Gods grace revealed and given us in Jesus Christ has never become theirs. But, the apostle says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!” - “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Gal. 5:1).
   They try to combine law with the gospel, and all of their “Christianity” just becomes a great deed of laws. Paul testifies about this project in the book of Galatians: “However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "he who practices them shall live by them." (Gal. 3:12). Take God’s word that serious, that you totally put your own thoughts aside, and actually listen to what is being preached to you: - Nothing! – Absolutely nothing! Where are you living?

   “The Light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). Can you think of a darker place on earth, than the human heart! – Ask this light to come in, ask it in, so that you can get saved and free, - so that you will not be trapped into slavery as Moses leads a human into, when he is perceived as a road to salvation. And if Moses cannot get to you, and get to perform his real deed, to undress all the goodness you thought was in you, and out you in the light, as you really are, - if that does not happen, you probably end up like one who is more satisfied with your own crumbs and rags, and make the terrible mistake, to believe that God is just as happy, - He who testified for you, about His Son!
   If you are sitting here and do not recognize yourself in this, - that the veil is taken away and you get to view into and live in the freedom that Jesus has bought for you so dearly, with His own blood, so pray about it, that you would see that this also is for you – pray to see the glory in Jesus Christ countenance, and that nobody and no one will throw a veil over for you!
   That prayer will surely be answered! He did not pay such a high price for your soul, to hide it from you.

E.K.

Holy Bible New American Standard Version
Translator: Benedicte Holtan Smart