Becoming radiant

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai

with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,

he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant

while he conversed with the Lord.

- Exodus 34:29

I've read that verse before, but this time it seems to have a new message for me. I was struck by the transformation Moses underwent as he spoke with... and listened to... God. His skin "became radiant".

In the New International Version of the Bible, the word "radiant" appears only 11 times. Three of these instances occur in this chapter and in this context: Moses' face became radiant when he spoke with God. Three of them use the word "radiant" to refer to being blameless and unashamed. And three refer to the radiance or glory of God and of His law.

As I reflected on this, I remembered that we were created in the image of God. It was when we began to listen to the enemy that this image became tarnished. While on earth, we will never regain the radiance we were meant to have. But as we spend time listening to God and heeding His word, we can begin to reflect some of His radiance. Like Moses, we may be unaware of the change, but by spending time with and emulating Jesus, others may be able to catch glimpses of Him.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 

 - I John 3:2-3