The Faces Behind The Veil
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, a rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.”
Isaiah 25:6-9
I have been reflecting recently on these verses from God, spoken through the prophet Isaiah. The verses capture the truth of our present state and the hope we have for the future. This hope is necessary to face the division, darkness, and disunity that currently plagues our country and the church here in America. The covering and veil of death bears witness in hateful speech, hurtful silence, and apathy leading to inaction. This shroud refuses to see people as made in God’s image. It blurs and turns them into enemies and objects of fear. It creates confusion and projects lies onto the viewer. It does not want us to see past the lies, past the darkness, and into the truth that waits behind it – a person created by God and therefore deserving of dignity and respect. This veil wants to keep us behind it, tethered to our anxieties about the “other,” preventing us from reaching out and pursuing understanding through relationship and even friendship.
This covering is death itself because it suffocates grace, kills mercy, buries the pursuit of justice, and extinguishes hope. Grace, mercy, justice and hope are all present in Christ’s death and resurrection. It is there that we find life and light. He can help us pierce through the darkness and burn the shroud to dust. As Christians, in dwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome the fears and the lies we and the enemy tell ourselves. We have the ability to examine ourselves with the discerning eye of the Spirit to see where our motives are rooted in sin.
As Christians, we have the power to be quick to condemn hate, to respectfully disagree with others, and to pray for our friends as well as our enemies. Granted, this is not always easy and is only really possible through communion with God - in prayer, reading His word, and through gospel community.
Here is my challenge to myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ; think about whether you are allowing fears and lies to affect your ability to love others as Jesus calls us to do. Are ungodly fears driving your positions and advocacy on immigration, abortion, criminal justice reform, etc?
God has told us to seek Him and to fear Him. And as He has told us through Isaiah, He will one day swallow up the covering that is cast over all peoples, He will swallow up death forever and wipe away all tears. On that day, we will be reclining at a table with family from all nations, tribes, and tongues, enjoying a rich feast with well-aged wine, seeing the beauty of God in the people he has made and saved. And He will be with us, face to face.
Behold, this is our GOD.
Therefore, I have hope.
Vonni Gant is the head of prayer at SJOC, and Chapter Chair of the Dallas chapter of the & Campaign.