Lawrenceville Conference: 1966, Like Christ (3:12)


Address—G.H. Hayhoe

For a moment at that last portion that our brother spoke of in Second Corinthians chapter 3, the 12TH verse, Second Corinthians 3, and verse 12. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. But their minds were blinded, for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. But we are with open face, beholding as in a glass. The glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Well, our brother has just mentioned about the Lord Jesus being there, glorified at God's right hand, as the one who has accomplished redemption, as the one who intercedes for us, as the one who is the object for our faith. And here we have in this portion a contrast between Moses and that which we have in the Lord Jesus up there at God's right hand. We know the first time that Moses went up to the mount and received the law, he came down with the tables of stone in his hand. But the people were worshipping a golden calf in the camp. And so he didn't bring those tables of stone into the camp. He broke them at the foot of the mouth. Because if those tables of stone had been brought in, why the people would have all perished, Because if they had been placed under pure law, it would have been judgment. And so Moses broke the stones. The tables of stone at the foot of the mount. And he went up again. And the next time, when God gave him the tables of stone with the law written upon them, why they were placed inside the ark, and the sacrifices were instituted. And so when Moses came down the second time, the skin of his face shone. There had been a partial revelation of what was in the heart of God. His desire for the blessing of man in spite of what man? Man was was seen in those types and shadows connected with the Tabernacle. And Moses, who had been in the presence of God and who had received this partial revelation, why his face shone? Because God delights in blessing. He delights in the blessing of his people. And as I say, the people were not placed under pure law, but instead there was a provision made and a way of approach into God's presence through the sacrifices. And on top of the Mercy seat, on top of the Ark rather where? The mercy seat was the blood was sprinkled, and the eye of God rested upon that blood, and so he could go on with the people who had failed, and all the ritual and all the types and shadows of the Tabernacle. Were the things that spoke of Christ. But it says here that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. That is, they didn't see in all those things what was typified. They didn't see that those things pointed on to Christ, but they did see Moses face shine. They saw that partial revelation. But Moses put a veil over his face so that they couldn't. Steadfastly look well, this was what characterized the Old Testament, that is, God dwelled in the thick darkness. He did not come out and make himself known except in a partial way, so that he might go on with the people. But here in this chapter, he contrasts what has taken place in Christianity. And now God has not placed, as it were, a veil over his face. The veil has. Taken away and the question of sin and guilt has been slow fully settled and God has been so fully glorified that now God can come out and tell all in his heart. And you and I can look up as the last verse says, but we all with open or as the new translation renders that we all with unveiled faith.

Holding the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image. That is, there is no veil upon His face. We can look up thy faith, as it says in Hebrews 2. We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor. It says in this next chapter, the 4th chapter, that the glory of God shines out. In the face of Jesus Christ, all beloved brethren, isn't it wonderful that the heart of God has been fully made known? God could not tell out what was in His heart in the full way that He has told it out. Now, since redemption has been accomplished and the Lord Jesus of God's right hand and the Spirit come down to indwell us is to lead us into the full enjoyment and blessing. Of what is ours through that finished work. And so we can look up, and I say there is no veil upon his face, and the glory of God shines out. But you notice here that it says. In this 15th verse. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Now notice there's no there was a veil on the face of Moses, so the children of Israel could not look. But here the veil has been done away. Where is the veil now? The veil is on their hearts. It's not on His face because God has been fully told out in Christ. What is the hindrance? Is it on God's part? No, the veil is on their hearts. Now I think that we could each one perhaps apply this in some measure to ourselves. We know how much. Has been made known to us in connection with what Christ has done. Why, brother, we know enough truth to fill our hearts with joy and rejoicing. We ought to be the happiest people on earth. Indeed, we're the only people who have a right to be happy. And we couldn't sit in this room this afternoon and think about what has been procured for us through the finished work of the Lord Jesus without our hearts welling up. Thanksgiving and there is no veil upon his face. But is it not possible to have a veil on our hearts? Isn't it quite possible for us to have something over our hearts that's hindering us from enjoying our portion? It says in the book of Proverbs. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Or again, it could be translated as in the new translation, Keep thy heart above anything that is guarded. And I might ask myself, and perhaps each one of us might ask ourselves, what is it that could avail over our hearts? Why are we not the happy, rejoicing Christians that we should be? It might be that we've allowed the world to come in with its attractions. It might be that we have allowed the cares of this life. It might be that we have allowed difficulties of the pathway, perhaps difficulties in the assembly, to throw the veil over our hearts. But there's no veil on his face. And he says, I want you to look up. There's nothing. That needs to come between because the veil has been done away. The veil has been done away. But the veil is on our hearts. All you say, Well, what can we do to take away that veil if these things have come, if the world has come in, if cares have pressed upon our hearts and robbed us of the enjoyment of Christ? If difficulties in the assembly or in our home have so come over our hearts. That we're not enjoying the Lord. What is the cure? Isn't this very beautiful here? Nevertheless, plan it shall turn to the Lord. The veil shall be taken away. Isn't it very simple? When it shall turn to the Lord ought to find in Him the one who can feel and satisfy the heart.

Now, of course, there may be things to be confessed. Things that we have allowed in our lives that are a hindrance. But the first step is turning to the Lord. When Israel turns to the Lord, will there not have been a great hindrance to their blessings? Oh indeed, when they look upon the face of that one whom they Pierce, when they gaze into His blessed face, inwardly they will be filled with sorrow and they will mourn. And be in heaviness because. Because they had allowed the veil to be on their hearts so long. But it's when they turn to the Lord, when, if that means Israel, when Israel turns to the Lord, the veil should be taken away. And old brethren, I say again, is there not a message for your hardened mind? Do we want to have this veil taken away? Do we see that there has been something that has enshrouded our hearts and hindered us from enjoying what God has made known for us? Christ, why I'm sure many of us have to confess, this is Saul. Do we want it to be taken away? Well, the first thing when it shall turn to the Lord. Oh, isn't this grand? And look up. And to think, as the little hymn puts it so nicely #2 in the appendix. Still sweet tis to discover if clouds have dimmed my sight when past eternal lover towards me as air thou art bright. And so we can look up. And if there are any of us here this afternoon that feels especially that something has come between and just say I can't look up because something's come between turn and look. He's the same. Or perhaps a look at him. Will produce in you and in me the same things that will produce in Israel, some grief, some mourning, that we have allowed something to come in that's a hindrance. But let us turn and look to him. And this is so beautifully brought before us as the work of the Spirit. Now the Lord is that spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. There is liberty. The enemy may be whispering in our. Years as believers all. But if I give up that thing. If I accept that circumstance from the Lord, how can I be happy? Oh, it's liberty to give the Lord Jesus his rightful place. It's not *******. It was *******. It is ******* for us if we allow our own wills to work. It's liberty when we look up and see Him as the one who has displayed His love in all its blessedness, and the person of his own beloved Son. And So what? The Spirit of God. Is seeking to produce in you and I. Is to occupy us with the Lord Jesus and we'll find for that in that pathway there is happy and holy liberty. The enemy may say, oh it's a difficult thing, but it's liberty. It's liberty for the new man. No. When we get home to glory, is it going to be something that we feel? Breathed about that we have to give up this thing and that thing. Always say I enjoy a lot of things down here on earth and when I get up there I won't be able to enjoy them. Do you and I think that way. Oh no, we say there's a little hymn puts it all. How we thirst. The chains of bursts that draw our spirits downward and bear to flow in Love's full glow. With hearts like vines around them. Brethren, it's liberty. It's liberty, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. When you and I allow the Spirit of God to do His blessing work in our hearts, it's not *******. Won't it be liberty for Israel in a coming day to recognize that One whom they crucified as the One who will bring them into fullest and richest blessing in the Kingdom? All indeed it will be and so it says. But we all with unveiled.

Face beholdings in a glass. The glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord that expression from glory to glory. This is very helpful, I think, because. You say well. Everyone takes some immediate changes. Well, you know, in the things of God. It's a, shall I say, a gradual thing. From glory to glory, that is. If you and I are occupied with the Lord Jesus and we see him up there, little by little Christ likeness will be produced in US. You know, it's not something where. Everything takes place all of a sudden. But isn't it sweet to see in the life of perhaps a young Christian when their heart is turned to the Lord Jesus and their eyes are turned to Him up there in the glory, little by little, things that are hindrances, associations, friends that are hindrances, they begin to drop off. Why is it well occupied with him? Were changed into the same image Christ's likeness is produced in us without effort, but as the result of occupation with him and I'd like to say to those who are young here this afternoon. Oh don't think well there's a great many things that I'd have to change. I would say to you just look up at the Lord Jesus. And just say, like Saul of Tarsus, Lord, what will? Thou have me to do, and you won't learn it the first day or the second day, but it'll be all through life. And there's nothing sweeter than to see a dear Christian as he grows older, finding the Lord Jesus more precious, more Christ likeness being produced every day until the moment when we will fully be changed into His likeness. So may I say to the young people, don't be discouraged. But look up and see that precious Savior, and if there's anything that is upon our hearts that's a hindrance, let us turn to the Lord, and the veil will be taken away, and the desire will grow and increase in your heart and mind and unconscious to ourselves, but for His joy and for His glory. There will be more of his likeness produced in US. Until it's fully brought about at that moment when we see him face to face.