THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 24, JULY 15, 2001

"FROM GLORY TO GLORY"

In the third chapter of the book of 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul addresses some of the false charges that had been leveled at him by certain false teachers. Additionally, Paul turns his attention to some of the things that they taught that simply were not true.

These false teachers, sometimes referred to as "Judaizing" teachers, sought to bind certain aspects of the Law of Moses upon Christians. They taught, among other things, that it was necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised to be saved. This was a major problem. Several of the New Testament epistles deal with it to varying degrees, and practically the entire 15th chapter of the book of Acts is devoted to a discussion that was held in the city of Jerusalem among the apostles and elders to address the matter.

In 2 Corinthians 3, beginning with verse 6, Paul addresses the superiority of the Gospel of Christ over the Law of Moses. He refers to the Law of Moses as the "ministry of death" and the Gospel as "the ministry of the Spirit". In verse 9, he wrote, "For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory." His point was quite simple. Just as justification is better than condemnation, so too was the Gospel to the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses brought men into a state of conscious condemnation, it made them aware of sin and its consequences. The Gospel, on the other hand, reveals a righteousness by which men are justified and freed from the condemnation pronounced upon them by the Law. 

Paul used Moses putting a veil over his face to demonstrate that the fading of the glory of the Law was planned, and also to show the blindness of the Jews as they read the Old Law. To this very day, the veil remains for many of them as they read the words of the Old Testament. Its types, figures, and prophecies are still dark to them, having their fulfillment in Christ. As long as they continue to reject Christ, the veil remains in place. But, when a person turns to the Lord in obedient faith, the veil is removed and the Old becomes understandable. Without Christ the types, figures, and prophecies of the Old Testament remain obscure. With Him, there is understanding.

I have written all of this to get to the last verse of 2 Corinthians 3. Verse 18 says, "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

What a beautiful and exciting thought! When we accept the Lord, the veil is removed. In both the Old and the New, we see the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, clear and without obstruction. But the really exciting thing is that as we see the glorious image of the Lord, it is reflected back at us. Little bit by little bit, we are transformed into that image.

Oh brethren, looking into the face of Jesus as represented in His laws, and seeking to do them, transforms us by degrees into His likeness. Here on earth that transformation will not be absolute and complete, but the time is coming when it will.

"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is." (1 John 3:2)

Greg Litmer

THE POET'S CORNER

"Gossip Town"

Have you ever heard of "Gossip Town",
On the shores of "Falsehood Bay"?
Where "Old Dame Rumor" in rustling gown,
Is going the live long day?

It isn't far to "Gossip Town" for people
Who want to go,
The "Idleness Train" will take you down
In just an hour or so.

The "Thoughtless Road" is the popular route,
And most folks start that way,
But it's a steep down grade, and if you don't watch out
You land in "Falsehood Bay".

The principle street is called, "They Say"
And "I've Heard" is the public well.
And the breezes that blow from "Falsehood Bay"
Are laden with "Don't You Tell".

Just back of the park is "Slander Row"
Twas there that good name died,
Pierced by a shaft from "Jealousy's Bow"
In the hands of "Envious Pride"

The people who live in "Gossip Town"
All reap of the seed they sow,
And this you will find as they have done,
If ever you chance to go.

Author Unknown

IF ONLY….

I was there when it started,
I guess I just couldn't tell.
If anyone had asked me
I would have said, "They're doing well!"

When did the flame start to flicker
And the enthusiasm fade away?
I guess I just didn't see it.
I didn't know what to say.

At first it was just occasionally,
They didn't miss all the time.
A child was sick, or he had to work,
I still thought every thing was fine.

After a while it got more frequent
Their seat was empty more than not.
I should have said something then,
But that would have put me on the spot.

If only I had noticed
If only I had tried.
I didn't do a thing to help them.
That's the truth, it cannot be denied.

Now their seat is always empty.
They have left the Lord, I don't know why.
And when I think about "If only…
All I can do is cry.

G.L.