WITH UNVEILED FACES AND WITHOUT A MIRROR
Dorothy Koone

One of the delights of Bible study is the glimpses we get of the glorious unity of the whole of truth, such as the Holy Spirit working through a diversity of authors and weaving various strands of truth into a beautiful tapestry of God’s faithfulness and love. I recently had such a glimpse when reading 2 Cor. 3:18, this time in the New King James Version, which reads:

“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 by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In connection with this passage I thought of 1 Cor 13:12 where Paul also says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.” Even though our faces are unveiled, according to this passage we see the glory of the Lord in the mirror only dimly, at least until we have finished being transformed, and then “face to face.”

This picture is broadened in 1 John 3:2 where another apostle tells us when our transformation into Christ’s image will be complete: “Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” And when is this? When we see him face to face. We can thus see the parallels between 1 Cor. 13:11-12 and 1 John 3:2.

We often sing that line “Farther along we’ll know all about it, farther along we’ll understand why.” We also say that the “then” in 1 Cor. 13:10, “When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away,” refers to the time when the last of the New Testament writers laid down their pen and the holy Scriptures were complete. We make this point in order to prove that tongues and prophecy have ceased.

But can we have it both ways? If this passage means that we will understand everything “then,” that is when we finish this life and graduate to the next, it cannot also mean that tongues and prophecies ceased “then,” meaning when the New Testament was completed.

However inconsistent we may be and whatever we believe will happen “farther along,” the great truth remains that we are even now in this world being transformed into Christ’s image “from glory to glory.” It also remains true that one day, not only with unveiled faces but directly and without a mirror, we will see Christ as he really is.

The apostle John, who once saw the Lord transfigured, goes on to say in 1 John 3:3: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”—1230 Cordell, Denton, TX 76201