(Part three)
“…the veil was done away with in Christ.”
“…the veil was done away with in Christ.”
II Corinthians 3:15
“But the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not…”
II Corinthians 4:4
“And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the Vail that is spread over all nations.”
Isaiah 26:6
In Isaiah 25: 6, 7, the prophet spoke of two things in particular God wishes to destroy, when He thinks about a people, a nation: one- the Vail (a die cast or mold made); two- the Veil upon their hearts. These two particulars present the two angles from which a nation is viewed: God’s and ours. Mankind has a view, but, of course, God has the better of the two.
The first Vail is not the usual spelling, but its use best describes the way a nation is characterized – referring to the die that has been cast. It is compared to boiling hot, liquid metal poured into a mold that takes on its shape.
When one thinks of Iraq these days, many immediately think of terrorists. That is a sad reality, because that characterization is not really them as a people group; it’s the demonic stronghold they live under because of the gods they serve. Similarly, certain nations are known for their tempers; others for their drinking; some for their womanizing; still others for their pride.
As you seek to take a mission's trip, there is much importance to knowing the dominant sin patterns of the region you are going into. It will be important to know how to build yourself up and guard your heart from the like. Jesus said, “Pray…that you enter not into temptation.” The victory first comes in prayer. Then, you will be a personal witness of seeing it come to pass right before your physical eyes.
While it is a bit unfair to use these stereotypical characterizations, as some would call it, again, they are the result of demonic strongholds in these nations. The enemy has a foothold there. But I declare unto - Jesus will have His way. He will destroy the Vail in the lives of those who turn to Him, and they will begin to take on His nature instead.
This Vail is man’s angle, and the vantage point from which we typically see people. It is life as we see it, but from God comes another perspective. Just like when Jesus died upon the Calvary’s cross, another Veil was torn from the top to the bottom. Man could not fix his own sin and evil characterizations such as described here. So, God ripped apart the veil from His vantage point, not ours.
The second Veil is upon the minds and hearts of entire people groups. This Veil is the thing that keeps people from seeing Jesus Christ as the Messiah – the Savior of the world.
George and Virginia Barney have been missionaries to Spanish-speaking countries for over thirty-five (35) years. They were members of the church I pastored in the Mid-South. On one particular Sunday morning, Virginia shared a vision from the Lord that revolutionized my thought processes concerning “how” God interprets the Veil on the eyes of nations. This seasoned veteran missionary’s vision was:
I saw the nations of the earth from God’s perspective. It was as if the nations were covered with one very large piece of material. One odd detail stood out to me more than anything else: the covering or material over some nations was dense and darkness abounded; still over other nations, the covering was almost sheer and light was able to penetrate further.
This Veil exists today. Jesus is just as stirred today as He was the day Isaiah spoke, “I will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the Vail that is spread over all nations.” Even though His heart is just as stirred today, since His ascension He has functioned from a different position. Now, He is seated on the right hand of God – ever living to make intercession for you and me…and, of course, the nations of the world. From these heavenly places, he now leans over and whispers to you and me, “Will you partner with me in these intercessions?” [Part 4 comes next week]
