Standing In the Son
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
(from the song “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me)
Exodus 34 verse 29 tells us that “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”
Moses went up the mountain, and when he came down, his face was radiant.
Dazzling, you might say.
Moses had spoken to God.
Many years later Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. This story is told in Matthew 17:
“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Jesus’ face “shone like the sun.”
His clothes became “as white as the light.”
“A bright cloud covered them” and then God spoke.
Once again dazzling.
Me?
I can’t even imagine, witnessing all this.
And Peter didn’t show fear until he heard God speak.
I think I would have been halfway down the mountain seeing Moses and Elijah appear.
But Peter was ready to set up tents!
Hearing God speak.
Seeing Jesus transfigured before them.
Seeing Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus.
We can only imagine.
Our image of God is through Jesus.
Our images of Jesus are shaped and formed by the imaginations of others long before us.
However the way we picture or imagine Jesus to look, we can speak to him daily through prayer.
So talk to God.
Pray.
And when you speak to God in this way, let your face shine like the sun.
Be radiant, lit up, dazzling.
As you give up to God those burdens that may be dimming the brightness in your life.
And give thanks for the blessings.
And imagine yourself “Standing in the Son.”
So get up.
And don’t be afraid.
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
(From “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me)
Postscript:
On this Tuesday and the next five Tuesdays during the period of Lent, I am participating in a daily writing that we are doing at my church, Sterling United Methodist Church. My assigned day is Tuesday. The daily themes are based on one word each day and some associated scripture. Today’s word is dazzle. If you would like to keep up with the posts from others click on this link in the postscript.