2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT)
We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This verse is one of the most widely debated verses in all of Scripture. The language that Paul uses here is somewhat vague. Trying to understand what Paul meant when he said that we are going from “one brighter level of glory to another” paints the picture of living in one God-inspired moment where we see the hand of the Lord actively moving in our lives and then transitioning to another time where we can enjoy the same blessings.
Think about that transition in a natural sense. If you’re a parent, you probably remember what it was like the day that your baby was born. If you’re an adoptive parent, perhaps you remember the day where the adoption officially closed. That was a glorious day. Now, fast forward about a year and remember the day when your child took his or her first steps. Once again, it was a glorious day. Maybe you laughed, cheered and took pictures. Perhaps you cried as you realized that your little one was growing up, but the fact remains that it was a beautiful moment. You went from one glory (the birth) to another glory (the first steps).
But what about all the time in between those two glorious moments? By no means are we implying that the times between beginning and your child’s first steps, but there was a lot of transition in between the two moments. There were a lot of sleepless nights in there. Nights where you were awakened every couple of hours by the undeniable screams of a baby who needed fed, comforted and changed. Speaking of needing changed, there were countless dirty diapers in between that first night with your baby and those first steps. If we’re being honest, there were some pretty tough times between those glories.
Over the course of your child’s life, there will be countless more glorious moments. First words, first solid food, first day of school, graduations, a wedding, the birth of their children and countless other events will be times where you and your family can celebrate together as you watch your child grow and mature. All of those moments are examples of glories. However, between all of those glories, there are transitions. Between the day of birth and the first steps, there were sleepless nights and dirty diapers. Between first steps and first words, there’s more of the same. Between kindergarten and college graduation, there are sleepless nights, failed tests, all nighters, breakups and all sorts of other less than desirable events.
That’s how our Christian life works as well. The day that you accept Christ as your Savior, you’re born again. The minute that you repent of your sins and ask Jesus to save your soul, you’re a new creature in Christ. That day is a glory. Following your conversion, there are plenty of other glories. The day you’re baptized, the first time you share your faith with someone else, the evidence of God being actively at work in your life and other events are all glories that take place after your conversion.
However, just like in a natural life, there are events that take place between those glories. There are times of loss and despair. Between glories, you will experience times where it feels like God is far from you and you’re left to wonder where He is in the middle of the madness. When you’re in a transitional time, going from one glory to another, there are times where it seems like all hope is lost and things will never get back to the way they were in your former glory. Those are the times where you’re going from glory to glory. That little word “to” contains a lot.
If it were left up to us, we would just live in the times of glory, wouldn’t we? After all, if you go back to our earlier discussion about what happened between the day your child was born and his or her first steps, you would have probably rather slept through the night. If you had your choice, you would have rather not had to change so many dirty diapers, but those moments transition from one state to the next. Those moments of despair, fear, hopelessness and loss after you’ve given your life to Christ serve the same purpose.
Understanding the purpose of the “to” when looking at your life can help you when you’re navigating your way between glories.
We Change Between Glories
If you go back and re-read 2 Corinthians 3:18, you’ll notice that Paul references a “glorious transfiguration.” In Matthew 17, Peter, James and John got to witness the transfiguration of Christ. The Bible recounts how in that moment, Jesus’ appearance was “dramatically altered” and that a “radiant light, as bright as the sun poured from his face” (Matthew 17:2).
Transfiguration brings about a change, and that’s what our transition between glories does for us. We change when we’re in transition. Just as a baby changes between stages of its life, we change between glories. When you first give your life to Christ, you’re enthusiastic and excited about your new spirit-life. Then something happens and you learn something new about being a Christian. Perhaps you find yourself praying for a family member who is ill. While that moment isn’t glorious by any means, you’re being changed. You’re going from someone who simply enjoys their salvation to someone who is asking God to move on behalf of someone else.
We Grow Between Glories
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (TPT)
Brothers and sisters, when I was with you, I found it impossible to speak to you as those who are spiritually mature people, for you are still dominated by the mind-set of the flesh. And because you are immature infants in Christ. I had to nurse you and feed you with “milk,” not with the solid food of more advanced teachings, because you weren’t ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready to be fed solid food.
Paul compared the teachings that he wanted to share with the church at Corinth to solid food while they were still babies who required milk. Times in your spiritual life where things aren’t going exactly the way that you need them to go force you to grow. You will find yourself having to be more dependent on the Word of God, diving deeper into its truths.
During these times of transition, you’ll find that you are forced to become stronger in your faith. In Christian lingo, mountain top experiences are considered times when we are living in the fullness of God’s blessings while valleys are considered places of trials and tribulations. While that may be true, it’s worth noting that things grow more abundantly in valleys than they do on the peaks of mountains.
We Learn to Worship Between Glories
But now, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
In ancient times, the potter would sculpt clay into exactly what he wanted it to be. After the shape was perfected, the potter would then slide the clay into the fire, where impurities were burnt out of the material and the structure was strengthened. Our times of being “in the fire” of tribulations (1 Peter 1:7) allow us to experience the same thing. Impurities are removed and our faith is strengthened.
Before the potter could pull the sculpture from the fire, he would strike it with a metal stick. If the sculpture produced a melodic, singing sound, he knew it was time to pull it from the flame. When we’re in the fire, we truly begin to understand what it means to worship. More than just a song we sing, our worship is the moment where we fully submit our lives to God, in the expectation that He loves us and wants what’s best for us.
The time between glories isn’t a time of abandonment and punishment. Instead, it’s a natural transition. A transition in which we learn to truly worship, we grow, and we are changed.
A Closing Prayer:
God, help me to understand the importance of my transition seasons. While my natural reaction is to want to stay in the time of glory, help me to better submit to you during the time between them so I can reap the benefits of being between glories. In Christ’s name, Amen.