We hear the expressions continually, a transformed life or the transfigured life, and the word in the original language, given by the Spirit (:,J":@DN@b:,2") gives us the English word metamorphosis, and is used, as in this chapter, of the Christian who beholds the Lord in glory without any intercepting veil, like Moses of old upon his blessed face; and is also used of the blessed Lord Himself when He reached His highest glory as a man on earth, and was transfigured on the holy mount (see Matt. 17:22And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (Matthew 17:2)) (:,J,:@DNf20).
Before looking at this great reality itself, and how it comes about, I would remark that it is not said our life is transfigured or transformed, but that we ourselves are, no doubt the life of such will manifest this, the evidence and proof of the metamorphosis will be seen in the life; but it is of all importance to see that it is of the Christian himself it is said the transformation takes place—the Christian, who is God’s workmnanship, a new creation, dead and risen with Christ, and in whom God the Spirit dwells. It is blessed beyond all expression to know we are thus “in Christ,” and to know we are actually united to Christ in glory; a Christian is of Christ’s generation and suitable to be united to Him, in that sense he is of His kindred, fruit of His death (see John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)). As such he is fit to be united to Christ in heaven by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.
The first great reality set before us here is the blessed Person on whom the Christian’s eye is turned, the divine object here presented, the Lord in glory without any veil on His face; here He is the contrast to Moses who had to put a veil on his face. The reason they were afraid to look at Moses was that the glory was there—they could not look to the end; they did not know when they offered a sacrifice that it was typical of Christ.
How blessed to see the contrast in the face of Jesus Christ, every ray of glory shining there attracts and assures the heart. There is no veil on His blessed face, and there is no veil on the Christian’s heart. The object then is the Lord in glory, He, who having made atonement, has gone up into heaven, and is in the glory of God; on Him we gaze with joy, with affection, with intelligence, then as we gaze on Him there, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, by “the Lord the Spirit.”
From glory to glory conveys to the heart the thought of progress. Thus, as we think of the divine metamorphosis, we have these blessed facts:
1. The Object—the Lord unveiled.
2. The place where He is—heaven and in glory.
3. The power, by and in whom the beholding is effected—the Holy Ghost—the Lord the Spirit.
4. The effect produced—a metamorphosis, a transformation, a transfiguration of the Christian who beholds.
How blessed, then, in the power of the Holy Ghost to fix the eye of faith simply and fully on Him where He is. Oh, that Himself in heaven may be more the one Object of the hearts of His own here below.