Changed from Glory to Glory

​We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 
 - 2 Cor. 3:18, HCSB
 
What is the glory of the Lord? It's one of those Christianese phrases we say a lot, but what is it? What is Paul talking about in the above verse?
 
Let's jump back to the Old Testament, to Exodus 33 & 34. Here Moses asked the Lord to teach him God's ways (33:13). Then a few verses later, Moses asked to see the Lord's glory. The Lord responds by telling him to get in a rock crevice and that Moses would be allowed to see the trailing edge of the Lord's glory.
 
In chapter 34, the event is described for us. The Lord told Moses to prepare two stones and go up to Mt. Sinai in the morning. Moses did what he was asked and the Lord passed in front of him (34:6). As the Lord passed, He listed some of His attributes: Yahweh is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in faithful love and truth...but will not leave the guilty unpunished. So, the Lord directly tied His glory to Who He was and is - to His attributes. His attributes are His glory.
 
Immediately, Moses bowed down and worshipped. This is the first time the Scriptures say that Moses worshipped. He had seen a burning bush, had been given a huge task by God to lead out a captive nation, had taken on the leader of a major world power at the time, had brought plagues to that powerful nation, had seen an army drown in the Red Sea, had participated in the celebration following that event, had seen God work miracles to keep the Israelites fed and watered in a desert, but this is the first time he worshipped! The end result of this encounter with the Lord is that Moses' face was somehow changed. He had to wear a veil over his face so people wouldn't be frightened.
 
Paul refers to this event in 2 Corinthians 3, stating that with unveiled faces, we look at the glory of the Lord as we would look at a mirror and we are changed - transformed - just as Moses' face was transformed when he looked at the Lord's glory.
 
This truth really challenges me. Am I busy serving the Lord, even singing His praises, but not truly worshipping Him? Have I been changed by my encounter with the Lord? Do others see a difference in my countenance, my appearance because of this transformation? Do I reflect (as a mirror) the Lord's glory, being compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in love but always speaking truth and not going along with sin?
 
If not, why not?
 
Let Your glory fill this place, Hallelujah.
Let Your glory fill this place even now.
Do a work in each heart, let it show on each face
Let Your glory fill this place.
- Geraldine Turner
 

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