Home Alone and the Masked Messenger
More than once I have stood in my kitchen with my hand
over my heart promising my family that I will never open my door to a stranger
when I am alone. All that changed
yesterday afternoon when I heard a loud knock coming from my back deck. There stood a large delivery man dressed in
uniform, his face covered with a veil, dark sunglasses and a hat. He was fully clothed in tan, wearing gloves
and waving his hand-held computer and pen at me through the glass window telling
me I needed to sign for the package he delivered to my doorstep. That package was the size of the one I was expecting
and the rest of the clues proved safe:
The UPS insignia on his shirt and the UPS brown truck in my
driveway. He removed his veil and
glasses and with kind eyes and a playful smile promised he wasn’t there to rob
me. I told him he scared me with his
masked get up. He apologized saying,
“Your dirt road is mighty dusty; give me a break!”
He’s right. Our country road, in the process of being resurfaced, is so
grubby I can write this post in the dust on my desk.
Do veiled men scare you?
I’ve been reading about another masked messenger who
instilled fear into the people with his veil.
I found Exodus 34 compelling. I pictured myself as a woman in the camp
watching Moses climb the mountain.
Scripture revealed he could not even let the flocks or herds graze
nearby when he climbed up to meet with God one-on-one. Alone he visited with the Lord and the glory
of God’s presence was so powerful, he had to cover his face with a veil when he
returned to the camp. His radiant
expression instilled fear into the hearts of the campers. He carried stone tablets, The Law.
I cross referenced that chapter with 2 Corinthians 3: 7-18.
16-18 Whenever,
though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they
are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal
presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a
living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete.
We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with
the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah,
our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our
lives and we become like him.
I was raised in religion, brought up in fear with strict
laws. But then I met Jesus! Grace replaced fear. Each day I have that opportunity to look into
His face allowing mine to shine more brightly.
Oh, to be radiant with His presence.
Of course I want to do that! It’s the ultimate make over!
Ephesians 3:12:
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and
confidently into God's presence.
Hi Mary! I would have fainted dead away on the floor! That veil! Yikes. But I'm glad he took it off so you could see this guy was legit.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Moses' face is so beautiful, I'm glad this man made you think of it! What a presence the Lord is, even as we pray. He infuses us with presence, and I have no doubt that we shine, all for him!
Blessings,
Ceil
What a beautiful post, Mary. All because of grace...face to face...no veil between us! Thank you for this lovely reminder of His grace.
ReplyDeleteWonderful share, Mary!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, my knees would likely be knocking at the sight of a 'masked' anyone peering at me through the window. That he didn't call first, or lift the veil is a bit unsettling.
Love what you wrote about the 'ultimate makeover'!
What started out as a nail-biter turns out to be a beautiful view of our Lord. Thank you, Mary. (So glad you are safe, too.)
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate make over indeed! Great post! The story of how Moses encountered the lord and how the people responded both to Moses and the prospect of encountering God's presence is always a challenge, to seek to show that same willingness to embrace the grace and presence of God and make the most of the opportunity He has provided to experience Him first hand. Spirit to spirit. Face to face.
ReplyDeleteI am a happy woman. Thanks be to Jesus who made it possible for us to come to God without a mask:)
ReplyDeleteI am a happy woman. Thanks be to Jesus who made it possible for us to come to God without a mask:)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post! I love the song lyrics: We shall see Him face to face and tell the story 'saved by grace'!
ReplyDeleteI think whenever we are alone, especially in light of all the craziness going on in the world, you were 100% right to be concerned. So thankful it had a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteLove and Hugs ~ Kat
What a beautiful analogy you make! I would have been frightened by the veiled UPS man too (and ordinarily I love seeing the UPS man coming, ha). I was raised with strict laws too, and like you I finally truly met Jesus and his grace and it's made all the difference!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would have opened that door! Masked men scare me indeed. I have a feeling that I would have even refused a rescue by the Lone Ranger!!
ReplyDeleteI love the lesson you brought out of this. Especially the verses from Corinthians. Yes, it's great, isn't it, that we can now be face-to-face with God?! Sometimes I think I take for granted the privilege of being able to boldly approach the throne!
GOD BLESS!
You shared in a truly blessing way. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteAll I can say it was a good thing he removed the mask and sun glasses before you opened the door. Yes, wouldn't it be nice if our faces shone so bright that we too needed a veil before we could approach anyone? Thank you for sharing your scary story with us here at Tell me a Story. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy. I too was raised in rules but have quickly came to grasp that those rules didn't align with the Word of God. That's when the transformation changed me and all of us from the inside out...
ReplyDeleteIn Him alone are we safe. You are one brave woman.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this experience.