Jesus Changes Everything

Jesus changes everything.

It sounds cliche, but there is such truth in these words.

In 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Paul talks about the old covenant and the new covenant. The old covenant was based on laws that were etched in stone. The old covenant was structured to bring glory to God through obedience to the law. 

There was glory and power in this agreement between God and His people, but there was also condemnation. There was death associated with the breaking of laws, either for the individual or through a sacrifice. Minds were hardened to each one’s way of thinking, and people became judgmental. A veil covered their minds when the Scriptures were read. It wasn’t thick enough to completely hide the words, but just enough to cloud them so they couldn’t understand the truth. On the trip to the promised land Moses was the only one who got to see the full glory of God. Afterwards his face was so radiant that he had to shield it from the people until it faded.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Colossians 3:16

Under the new covenant the “laws” are now written on hearts to be carried with us and lived out in all we do. Now we can all see and reflect the glory of God without hiding like Moses did. There is freedom and confidence in this new covenant. There is true joy.

When Jesus died on the cross the physical veil in the temple was torn in two. There was no longer a separation between God and His people. Everyone now has direct access. Sin no longer has to result in death, Jesus was the final sacrifice. He fulfilled the law.

Jesus changes everything.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17

“I was one way, and now I am completely different, and the thing that happened in between was Him.”  -Mary Magdalene, The Chosen

When we meet Jesus, when we accept his offer of grace, we are a new creation. Everything in our past is washed away. It’s a clean slate, an opportunity to start fresh, to move forward without guilt or shame.

I spent a lot of time behind a veil. I read my Bible sometimes but I didn’t understand. The stories were good, there were parts that seemed to bring me comfort, I learned who the main characters were, I knew the mechanics of how it all worked. But was it written on my heart to last forever? Was it personal? 

I was comfortable behind my veil. I knew the facts, but I didn’t understand the Truth. I read the words, but they were just stories and history lessons. I didn’t respond to them in a way that would change my behavior. I didn’t want to look or act “too different” from everyone else.

When Jesus finally cracked open my hardened, scarred heart and I let Him in to start to heal my brokenness the Scriptures came to life. It was like I had never read these words before. Insights and revelations came flooding in and I was overwhelmed by His grace and mercy. I could finally see who Jesus really is and how much He loves me. It became a personal letter, words to carry with me, someone to guide me and take on my burdens. There is now freedom and confidence to be who I am, because of whose I am.

Jesus changes everything.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
2 Timothy 3:16

But there is more than just reading to find out what is right and wrong. It goes much deeper than that.

We can diligently study Scripture and miss experiencing its LIFE. -Kelley Latta

When we live in the “old way” we see God’s glory momentarily, and then it fades away like it did from Moses’ face. Then the veil starts to close, hearts and minds are re-hardened, judgement forces its way back to the front. We struggle to understand the Scriptures, or attach our own interpretations and use them to justify our positions or actions.

They say old habits die hard, I guess old covenants do too. It is so easy to slide back into self-sufficiency. Even with the best of intentions, when I try to do it alone I find myself feeling frustrated, superficial, off track. I have realized that this is when I need to again turn to the Lord.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Timothy 3:16

The veil is taken away EACH TIME I turn to Him. It is a daily decision, sometimes hourly. When I skip that step I don’t understand, I struggle. I miss the glory, and I start to wonder where it has gone.

The glory is never gone, it just fades from my view when I am not looking in the right direction and the veil obscures it.

Jesus changes everything.