A monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a region. These winds cause wet and dry seasons throughout much of the tropics and are most often associated with the Indian Ocean. Monsoons always blow from cold to warm regions. The summer monsoon and the winter monsoon determine the climate for most of India and Southeast Asia. They regularly last for two months, so smile, get out your umbrellas and your rubber flip-flops because the rainy season will be here at least until January if the nation is blessed with that much water to fill the wells and increase groundwater.
THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away (2 Cor 3:14-16).
The veil Moses wore over his face stopped the people from seeing him. “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him” (Exod. 34:33-35).
The passage in 2 Corinthians which alludes to this reference tells how the Israelites could not see (understand) the Old Testament law because a veil was on their heart (singular). Keep in mind that the veil was not on the scriptures, but on their heart. The heart is the capacity to understand. When they tried to understand the scriptures, the veil stopped them from seeing (understanding) the scriptures. “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart” (2 Cor. 3:14-15).
God put the veil on their heart because they didn’t turn to Him. Anyone who seeks will find. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone” (Mat. 7:7-9)?
God searches for those who understand and seek Him. “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God (Psa. 14:2). The Lord will remove the veil from anyone who seeks Him, but he also sends a strong delusion on those who do not love His truth so that they will believe a lie. “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thes. 2:10-12).
When men do not love the truth about God, He gives them up to do evil. Their minds are blinded to what they really are. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Rom. 1:25-28).
Questions for further study:
1. Why was there a veil on the face of Moses (Exod. 34)?
2. What did the veil represent (2 cor. 3:14-16)?
3. Why did they not understand the reading of the Old Law?
4. Why did God put the veil upon their hearts?
5. What was the effect of having a veil upon their hearts (2 Cor. 3:14-15)?
6. Why are men today blind to (cannot understand) the truth of God (2 Thes. 2:10-12)?
7. What kind of people is God searching for (Psa. 14:2)?
8. When God gives up on people, what does he give them up to (Rom. 1:25-28)?
9. Why does he give up on certain people (Rom. 1:18-23)?
10. What will happen if we truly seek God (Mat. 7:7-9)?
WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” (Eph. 5:8).
Light is the opposite of darkness. The Bible speaks of light as the symbol of God’s presence and righteous works. “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen” (1 Tim. 6:16). Physical light has been associated with God’s presence, while spiritual light is associated with His knowledge, truth, and righteousness since creation. Darkness, on the other hand, symbolizes ignorance, error, evil, and the works of Satan.
God and His Word are frequently pictured as lights or lamps to enlighten and guide the believer down the dark roads of life. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” (1 John 1:5-6). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psa. 119:105). The Psalmist also declared, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psa. 27:1). Light is also used as a symbol of holiness and purity. Paul counseled the Christians at Rome to “put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12).
The New Testament presents Jesus as the personification of light or divine illumination: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He is the one who brought the truth and knowledge of God into the world (John 1:18). Jesus plainly stated that those who rejected this divine light would bring judgment upon themselves. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21). Jesus and the New Testament writers extended the figure of light to include faithful Christians, who were called “children of light” (Eph 5:8).
Hating the light will bring condemnation. Turning to the light brings salvation, as He said: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Col. 1:13-14). Walking in the light is not just believing a certain doctrine. Walking in the light, which is God’s word, is walking according to God’s direction for us””doing what He says. That light, when it enters our hearts, gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).
Jesus not only brought the light, but He walked according to the light and therefore is our example of what it means to be light. We need to grow in that light, both in knowing the light as well as becoming a light to others. God’s prophesy (the word of God) is that light which shines and needs to grow brighter and brighter until the day star rises in our hearts! (2 Pet. 1:19). The more of God’s truth and word we understand the brighter the light. Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with all knowledge and spiritual understanding, which would mean all light (Col. 1:9-10). Truly the day star comes closer and closer the more knowledge and understanding we add. When we live according to that light we do many good deeds which glorify the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Our obedience glorifies our Father. We are admonished to walk as children of light (Eph 5:8), which we do when we obey more and more of His commands.
QUESTIONS:
1. RESEARCH QUESTION: Many ancient cultures were fascinated with light and its implications. Using a concordance or a Bible dictionary, find as many examples as possible of ancient people whose religions called for the worship of light or the sources of light (stars, moon or the sun). As much as possible, give examples from scripture of what God thought of these people.
2. Who were the people who sat in darkness, and what “great light” did they see (Matt. 4:16; Luke 1:79)?
3. What is the light of the body? What happens to people whose “eye is evil” (Matt. 6:22-23: Luke 11:34-36)?
4. Why did men love the darkness (John 3:19)? Did they comprehend the light (John 1:5)?
5. What was Jesus called (John 8:12; John 12:35)?
6. What was the purpose of “the light” (John 12:46; Acts 26:18)?
7. DISCUSSION QUESTION: If we hate our brother for any reason, where are we dwelling (1 John 2:8-9)? Can we be saved in that condition? Please also consider 1 John 4:20.
8. If we walk in the light, what do men in the world see (Matt. 5:16)?
9. What does it mean that the day star can rise in our hearts (2 Pet. 1:19)?
10. How can the light of God shine more and more in our hearts and actions (Col. 1:9-10; Matt. 5:16)?
MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT 