“We can draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 TPT
I have loved studying the book of Revelation. Growing up Revelation was a scary book of wild creatures, tribulation, anti-christ, and fear. I could never understand why God said that if we read it we will be blessed. It didn’t seem like a blessing to me at all, it was more like watching an action thriller where all the good people get tortured. I’m not seeing it that way at all now.
Tribulation is not something I look forward to, I don’t know of anyone that does. I don’t hear people say, “Bring on the tribulation!” The Greek word “tribulation” is thlipsis, and it means “pressure”. Okay, I can relate to feeling pressure, I felt a good amount of that just this week. Is it the same as tribulation? I am thinking that it’s different, and certainly not what I was taught as a child. In the study I’ve been doing by Brian Simmons, it is said that the “pressure is the very fingers of God working to press us into the Kingdom of God.” It is about Him unveiling himself in us so that we are unveiled! He presses his love into us in a powerful and life changing way, bringing transformation and new life. He is pressing us into his own image, breaking away all that blocks us from living a life of love. He is moving us through a process of becoming more and more like him.
As I recount the many events in my life that I felt as if God was punishing me; I now see that he was pressing into me to mold me. I’ve lived an on-going revelation and unveiling of Jesus. In turn, he has broken through the seals in my life that prevents me from seeing who he is. He has pressed me, dealt with me in love, changed me. He still is. His pressing is a work of redemption. For Christ to be fully revealed in me and in you, our negative attributes of our carnal nature must be pressed into and removed.
We are created to become like him. We are meant to reflect Kingdom Glory everywhere we go. We are an open vessel that is meant to be inhabited by Christ Jesus. It is his inheritance to live within us, and for that to fully happen, we must have a heart that has uninhabited all that hinders him. It reminds me of the Old Testament stories, some of them so violent, yet they were commanded to destroy all those that lived in Canaan (enemies) so they could inhabit the territory. We too must destroy the giants that lurk around inside our beings, they must be conquered so Jesus can take full possession. Giants like greed, jealousy, resentment, hate, lies, hopelessness, etc…
“You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.” 1 John 5:4
Jesus is faithful to continue to press into our hearts and unveil his character through our cleansed lives. He will never give up on you! He will always wrap his fingers around you and gently press for more. Can you let go so He is unveiled in you? When we allow Him to conquer all that is unlike Him, He becomes visible within us and we live a life that is victorious, strong, and full of love. Fear has no place in an unveiled life!
“We are a colony of heaven on earth as we cling tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble bodies and transfigure us into the identical likeness of his glorified body. And using his matchless power, he continually subdues everything to himself.” Philippians 3: 20-21
He presses us to become. Lord Jesus, press me!
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