You Aren't Smarter

Most Christians I know are caring, loving, humble people who are aware of the grace showered on them by Christ.  Many of the Christians in my life inspire me to greater obedience in some aspect of my life.  But some Christians are arrogant and self-righteous.  These few give the rest a bad name.  These few have no right to be arrogant and self-righteous.

I'll continue in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 to illustrate why Christians can't be arrogant and self-righteous.

"But their (the Israelites) minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.  It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.  Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."  2 Corinthians 3:14-16

Earlier in the chapter we read about how incomprehensibly glorious the Gospel is.  Those of us who claim the Gospel as our hope see this glory.  It's hard for us to imagine why others don't see the Gospel as glorious; we can't fathom why people reject the Good News.

Some might say, "Non-Christians are stupid.  They can't be intelligent if they don't accept the Gospel."

To that I say, "Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, etc."  People who reject the Gospel don't do it because they are unintelligent.  People who accept the Gospel don't do it because they are intelligent.

People accept the Gospel because, metaphorically, the veil has been removed, the scales have fallen off their eyes like Paul; People accept the Gospel because of the direct intervention of God Himself!

AND the veil is removed because we turn to the Lord.

Does God remove the veil first or do we turn to Him and then He removes the veil?  I say "yes".  This is a great mystery.  God initiates and we turn to Him.

So, if you believe the Gospel you aren't smarter.  If you believe the Gospel it is the grace of God that allowed you to believe.  Therefore, we must be humble.  We, too, did not see the surpassing glory of the new covenant until the veil was removed.  Therefore, be gracious to those who still have the veil hiding the glory from the eyes of their heart.

Here's what we need to do in light of this truth.  Pray and act.  We must continue to display the Gospel's glory through our words and actions.  We also must pray that God remove the veil from unbelieving hearts.  We can work all we want at reaching those blinded by sin, but only God can allow them to see the Gospel as beautiful.

Who is brought to your mind to pray that the veil be removed from their hearts?  Pray for that person today.