"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of Darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:6

I read this verse the other day, and I've been thinking about it ever since. Today I decided to study it and meditate on it more, and I want to share with you guys some of the revelation I got! It's pretty exciting :).

I'll just divide it up by phrase.

I. "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,'

1. "The earth was without form and void; darkness was over the face of the deep"
   
2. "God said, 'let there be light' and there was light" (Gen 1:2-3)

II. has shone in our hearts

1. Our hearts being like the darkness, the lifeless chaos before the Light; He spoke light into our hearts just like Creation
2. He makes something out of nothing; light from darkness, life from death
   

III. to give the Light

1. Light - we are enlightened; this light is Life; saving Grace
2. "The true light came into the world" (John 1:9); the light is Jesus 
3. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5)
4. Those who do not know God are described as having "foolish hearts" that are "darkened and exchange the glory of the immortal God" (Romans 1:23). Without God giving us this Light, we are darkened
5. Without Him giving us this light, we are veiled; "The gospel is veiled to those who are perishing"; "the minds of unbelievers are blinded" - can't see the "light of the gospel of the glory of Christ"! (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
6. It is the free gift of God! (Ephesians 2:8-9)

IV. of the knowledge

1. "Desire without knowledge is not good" (Proverbs 19:2); not enough to desire - He must give the knowledge
2. "God chose to make KNOWN how great are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in me, the Hope of Glory" (Colossians 1:27). He makes it known!
   
3. But though we have this knowledge... "we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully" (1 Corinthians 13:12)

V. of the Glory of God

1. We fall short of it (Romans 3:23)
2. "The ministry of death came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory"; "the ministry of the Spirit has even more glory!" (2 Corinthians 3:7-8)
   
3. "We all, with UNVEILED FACES, beholding the GLORY of the Lord..." [continued]
4. But what is His glory?
   

VI. in the face of Jesus Christ."

1. "...are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18)
2. This image is JESUS CHRIST!
3. "He is the radiance of the GLORY OF GOD"! (Hebrews 1:3)
4. "We have seen His glory" (John 1:14)
5. The glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ
6. Because the veil has been torn, we are now very BOLD (2 Corinthians 3:12)
7. If I want the knowledge of the glory of God, I must stare in Jesus' face

So even creation is a picture of the Gospel. Our hearts were darkened, without form or void; He spoke light into our hearts, light of the knowledge of the glory of God - nowhere else but in the face of Jesus Christ!

AND!

(This is the really cool part.)

The Lord saw that the Light was good (Genesis 1:3).

He sees the Light that He speaks into our hearts, and sees that it is good in spite of our flesh!


We have seen His glory. Stare nowhere else but in Jesus' face. Know Him. Fall in love with Him. "From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:16). He's enough. But remember that this is a gift given to you; it is by grace we are saved, it is by grace that He has shone in our hearts to give us the Light. There are people everywhere whose hearts are darkened, whose faces are veiled. Pray fervently that the veil may be removed, that God may shine in their hearts!

"May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations."
Psalm 67:1-2

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance [or His face] upon you and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26

Thanks be to God for this inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)