BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
(2Co 3:18 WEB (R))

There are some translations which render this verse as us reflecting the glory of the Lord as a mirror. While grammatically possible, I believe that such a rendering misses the point of his argument entirely. To merely reflect the Lord's glory would mean that the glory is outside of us. Yet in the type and shadow of the tabernacle, the glory of the Lord was INSIDE, radiating from within, not outside shining onto the tabernacle.

Since our bodies are the tabernacle, or temple, of the Spirit, logically then, that glory must also be INSIDE us, radiating from within, and with this Paul agrees as he goes on to say:

seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2Co 4:6 WEB (R))

So then, Paul is making the marvelous statement that as we look at ourselves, doing so with no more veil over our minds and hearts, we are seeing something in the mirror, shining back at us. We see, not only ourselves, but the glory of the Lord shining from within us!

Why is this so important to grasp? Think of it this way. If the glory of the Lord were somewhere outside of us, it will be seen as something we want. We must want it because it is separate from us. We look ourselves and either see ourselves as anything but glorious, or we start comparing and trying to make ourselves match that glory we see outside of us. All of this is a thinking and an endeavor of the flesh, and of the mind of separation.

But seeing the reality, which is that when we look at ourselves, there is glory there, with no separation (I do not mean looking at the flesh, but to see by faith our hearts and spirits). It is no longer seen as a want, or desire, for who wants or desires what he already has or is?

We may try to deny that reality, but over time, as we continue to look, and observe, with those eyes of faith, we will become convinced. And it is that conviction that automatically affects us outwardly, and is a thinking and an endeavor of the spirit, of the mind of union. When one becomes convinced of something, then we do what comes naturally. It springs from an inner knowing, not an outward desire.

My brothers and sisters, if you don't see the glory of the Lord in yourself, you are looking on the surface, at the earthen vessel. Look a little deeper, and you will see that treasure. Believe what is true about you, no matter what the outward does to try to convince you otherwise. While in this life there will always be a level of disparity between the inward reality and outward perception. However, that can never change what our Lord did when he died for us, in making the old pass away, and the new to come. And you and I are new every day.

Ron