#5 Our Hope of Heaven
“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.”
Becoming Like Christ: The Power of Being Seen
What does it mean to be changed into the image of a son of God? Not just to admire Jesus, not just to follow His teachings, but to actually be transformed into His likeness? Scripture gives us a powerful answer:
"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." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
This passage is more than a poetic idea—it is a roadmap for transformation. And the key phrase is "with unveiled face."
What Does It Mean to Have an Unveiled Face?
The Greek word used here for “face” includes the idea of both looking and being seen. So when Paul says we behold God with an unveiled face, he’s not just talking about seeing God—he’s also talking about letting ourselves be seen by Him.
That means real transformation begins in a space of transparency. It begins when we come before the Lord without hiding. We stop posturing. We stop trying to earn righteousness or to clean ourselves up first. Instead, we let Him see everything—the shame, the sin, the fear, the pride—and we do not run.
This is not about condemnation. This is about intimacy. Because when we let God see us fully, we allow His Spirit to minister to the places we’ve kept hidden. That’s where transformation takes place. That’s where the old falls away and the new man rises.
Letting Ourselves Be Seen
In quiet moments with God, have you ever remembered something that made you cringe? That wave of shame, that pang of regret—those are the very things we must bring into the light. Not to be judged, but to be healed.
The unveiled face is the courage to say, “Here I am, God. All of me. Even the parts I don’t want to admit.”
And in that vulnerable space, God doesn’t meet us with disgust. He meets us with glory. His opinion, His view, His truth about who we really are in Christ begins to override the story we’ve been telling ourselves.
Replacing Shame with Dignity
Transformation means we stop being defined by our sin, our shame, or our failures. We are defined by our identity in Christ. Psalm 8:5-6 says:
"You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands."
You’ve been crowned with glory and honor. That’s dignity. That’s worth. That’s what God speaks over you—even when you feel unworthy.
So when the Spirit reveals something painful within you, the response isn’t to cover it up. It’s to let it be seen—and then put on the new man. To say, “Yes, I see that—but that’s not who I am anymore.”
This is the discipline of transformation: letting the old identity fall away and actively stepping into who God says you are. Not becoming someone different, but discovering who you already are in Him.
The Mirror of Glory
When Paul says we behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, he’s saying something profound: what we’re seeing reflected is not just Christ—but Christ in us. We are not just looking at something unattainable. We are seeing our own potential, our own identity, unveiled and shining back.
But the key is honesty. Transformation doesn’t come through pretending to be someone you’re not. It comes through letting the Word of God read you—mirror you—so that what is false can fall away and what is true can rise.
As you let the Lord search you, as you let yourself be seen, the process of transformation begins. Not through striving. Not through shame. But through the Spirit.
Embrace the Process
This is the hope of heaven: that we would be conformed to the image of the Son—not by hiding, but by showing up with open hearts, unveiled faces, and a willingness to let His Spirit do the work.
So don’t run from the mirror. Don’t avoid the quiet place. Let yourself be seen. And as you do, you’ll find that what’s reflected back is not your failure—but His glory in you.
