God desires that every human being should know how to walk in the light of His truth, for without this we cannot be saved from eternal death which is annihilation by God.

In this post then we will look at one of my own life experiences and from this draw a valuable, essential lesson which can help every person to receive eternal life from God.

Who is God?

God is a divine Family known as “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible.

For those who are new to Bible notation, “Acts 17:29,” for example, is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Acts 17:29” is taken from the book of Acts in the Bible, the 17^th chapter, and the 29^th verse.

This Family consists of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

These members of the Godhead operate as one single Family unit, and so we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32. They never contradict each other at any time.

What is God like? “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.

Why Eternal Death (Annihilation) from God?

In the beginning, God created the first human pair, a man named Adam and a woman named Eve. They were holy, that is, with a perfect character of love identical to the character of God.

However, Adam and Eve both yielded to the temptations to sin, which is evil and wrongdoing, from an angel named Satan. This angel, originally named “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12), and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:4) rebelled against God in heaven and were cast out of heaven by God and are now awaiting God’s judgment day.

All the descendants of Adam and Eve have inherited their disposition to sin and they too have, therefore, sinned.

Now “the wages of sin is [eternal] death [which is annihilation]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

“Jesus” (Matthew 1:21) is the name that was given to Christ when he was born as a baby boy over 2,000 years ago.

Jesus Christ died “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2), was buried, and rose to life again on the third day after his death. Christ has ascended to heaven and will come to the earth a second time on God’s judgment day.

Our Bible Verse of Focus

The following is our Bible verse of focus in this post: “And he [God] will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail [veil] that is spread over all nations.” Isaiah 25:7.

Of course, a number of questions arise concerning this Bible text. What is this covering or veil cast over all humanity? Who has cast this veil and why? How will God destroy this veil?

Continue reading and I will explain all these things by looking through the lens of my own life experience in this regard.

A Particular Life Experience Regarding Walking in the Light

Every day I ask counsel of God and He answers me, and so in this way, God daily directs my life. However, there have been times when I have asked God for direction and no answer comes from God.

I know that this is an indication of either unconfessed sin in my life, or that God has already given me enough counsel in the past so that I ought to know what is God’s will in the matter at hand.

Therefore, I set about examining my heart and my Christian walk to see if I have sinned, to search my mind for relevant, previous counsel from God, and I keep praying for direction.

But notwithstanding all this, it is as if a cloud and a fog have settled upon my mind and I am unable to see anything clearly in my mind, nor am I able to hear from God. At times like these, I am in a state of uncertainty and perplexity, not knowing what course to pursue.

Then I cast my helpless soul upon God and pray to God saying, “Whatever is your will in this matter, I will do it. Help, I pray!”

It is then that the cloud and fog disappear from my mind and the clarity of a bright, sunshiny day comes upon my mind and I know for a certainty what is God’s will for me regarding the matter.

The Veil Cast Over All People

We will now seek to find the spiritual lesson that is taught by my life experience. This lesson will help us to understand our Bible verse of focus as well as answer the questions posed above.

The Throne of Wickedness

Now God says, “Shall the throne of iniquity [wickedness] have fellowship with thee?” Psalm 94:20. In other words, God is asking, Shall we have friendship with Satan?

“For though there be that are called gods…(as there be gods many, and lords many,) but…there is but one God.” 1 Corinthians 8:5, 6.

That is, it is Satan who claims to be “the god of this world [the earth]” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and he casts his veil over human minds.

A Symbolic Veil

Here is an example of the manifestation of the symbolic veil cast by Satan over the minds of some people.

God says, “And not as Moses [a leader of ancient Israel], which put a vail [veil] over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly [steadfastly] look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail [veil] untaken away in the reading of the old testament [the portion of the Bible that was written before Christ came to the earth]; which vail [veil] is done away in [friendship with] Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3:13, 14.

“But even unto this day, when [the first five books of the Bible which were written by] Moses is read, the vail [veil] is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it [their hearts] shall turn to the Lord [Jesus Christ], the vail [veil] shall be taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:15, 16.

What does all this mean? It means that there are some people who read the Old Testament of the Bible but who do not correctly understand it because there is a veil upon their heart. Thus, they do not discern that Moses and the other Old Testament writers wrote of Christ.

More generally, it means, as God says, “Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” Isaiah 60:2.

This then is the symbolic veil of darkness that Satan has cast over all humanity. It is an inability to know and understand the truth of God’s holiness and His heart of perfect love.

Spiritual Blindness

Now God said to one of His prophets named Isaiah, “Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.” Isaiah 6:9.

“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest [so as to prevent any possibility that] they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert [to Christ], and be healed [of their sin-sick souls].” Isaiah 6:10.

In other words, “But though he [Christ] had done so many miracles [supernatural acts] before them, yet they believed not on him [Christ]: That the saying of Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord [Christ] been revealed?” John 12:37, 38.

“Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias [Isaiah] said again, He [Satan] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted [to Christ], and I [Christ] should heal them [of their sins].” John 12:39, 40.

For “if our gospel [God’s plan for the saving of humanity from eternal death (annihilation)] be hid, it is hid to them that are lost [who have lost out on having eternal life]: In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not [in the gospel], lest [so as to prevent any possibility that] the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God [who has a character of love identical to that of the other members of the Godhead], should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4.

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance [of the truth of God’s love] that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Ephesians 4:18.

This then is the purpose of Satan in his casting of a veil over all people. For Satan bends all his energies to establish his throne of wickedness in people’s hearts and, thereby, take away their ability to love God.

Thus, Satan is the one who brings darkness, that is, brings spiritual blindness, and separation from God into human lives. Why? Because Satan desires that humanity should have the same fate as his which is eternal death (annihilation). In this way, Satan seeks to bring grief to the heart of God for Satan knows that God loves all humanity.

Jesus Christ, the True Light

When Adam and Eve sinned, instantaneously, Christ became a Mediator between God and humanity for “he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague [eternal death (annihilation)] was stayed [held back].” Numbers 16:48.

For “in the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God [the Godhead], and the Word [Christ] was God. The same was in the beginning with God [the Godhead].” John 1:1, 2.

“All things were made by him [Christ]; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3.

“In him was [eternal] life; and the life was the [spiritual] light of men [humanity]. And the light shineth in [the] darkness [of human minds]; and the darkness [of the human mind] comprehended it not.” John 1:4, 5.

“That was the true [spiritual] Light, which lighteth every man [person] that cometh [is born] into the world [so that they are born with a desire for good, however dim this desire might be].” John 1:9.

“For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9. That is, it is Christ “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [of God’s holiness and perfect love].” Colossians 2:3.

So, we may say that Jesus Christ is the True Light from heaven.

The Spiritual Freedom of Light

God says, “And ye shall know the [light of the] truth [about God’s love], and the truth shall make you free [from the bondage of sin]” (John 8:32) which bondage makes you such that you “cannot cease from sin.” 2 Peter 2:14.

“Verily [surely], verily [surely], I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…If the Son [Christ] therefore shall make you free [from the bondage of sin], ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:34-36.

For “as many as received him [Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons [children] of God [who are full of God’s light], even to them that believe on his [Christ’s] name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but [were spiritually born] of God.” John 1:12, 13.

“Stand fast [be steadfast] therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage [to sin].” Galatians 5:1.

So, the spiritual light of Christ is the means by which God intends to “destroy…the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail [veil] that is spread over all nations.” Isaiah 25:7.

God Cautions Us to Walk in the Light

God says, “Some men’s [people’s] sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment [where they are blotted out and the sinner receives eternal life from God]; and some men they follow after [judgment, and so they are not blotted out and, therefore, the sinner receives eternal death (annihilation) from God].” 1 Timothy 5:24.

“So speak ye [then], and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty [which is God’s law of love].” James 2:12.

“And have no fellowship [friendship] with the unfruitful works of [the] darkness [of sin], but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11.

“Walk while ye have the light [of God’s love], lest [the] darkness [of sin] come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither [where] he goeth.” John 12:35.

For “if we walk in the light [of God’s love], as he [Christ] is in the light, we have fellowship [friendship] one with another, and the [merits of the shed] blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Thus, God cautions all humanity to walk in the light if they wish to be saved and, therefore, receive eternal life from God.

Submitting to the Light

Now God says, “The heart [of every human being] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.

And “he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” Proverbs 28:26. Therefore “trust in the LORD [God] with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him [God], and he [God] shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.

Yield to the Holy Spirit so that you “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil [Satan], and he [Satan] will flee from you.” James 4:7.

For God says, “If any man [or woman] will do his [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine [teaching from God].” John 7:17.

Thus, it is by submitting ourselves to the spiritual light of God’s will that we are able to know God’s holiness and perfect love. Without this, we are in spiritual darkness having been blinded by Satan.

Praying in Submission to God for Light from God

It is important to understand that it is not enough to mentally consent to the light of God’s love, but we must actually communicate with God about our life and our desires.

We should not then be like those who have “asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD [God].” Joshua 9:14.

Now, God says to all humanity, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth [scolds] not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:5, 6.

“For let not that man [or woman] think that he [or she] shall receive any thing of the Lord [God]. A double minded man [or woman] is unstable in all his [or her] ways.” James 1:7, 8.

So then, the way to receive spiritual light is to pray to God, submitting to the light of God’s love, and sincerely ask God for heavenly wisdom to perceive God’s holiness and perfect love.

The Answer to Sincere Prayers Made in Submission to the Light

God says, “Ask [of God], and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock [ask God perseveringly], and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh [asks God perseveringly] it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7, 8.

Seeing the Light

Our prayer to God, in submission to the light of God’s love, causes us to spiritually hear the word of God to us given through the Holy Spirit. When this happens, we are no longer spiritually deaf.

For God’s desire is for humanity “being [spiritually] born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God [the Bible], which liveth and abideth for ever.”1 Peter 1:23.

So, God says, “Verily [surely], verily [surely], I say unto thee, Except a man [or woman] be [spiritually] born again, he [or she] cannot see [perceive] the kingdom of God” (John 3:3) such “that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil [Satan], who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26.

That is, God has given to humanity “the holy scriptures [the Bible], which are able to make thee wise unto salvation [the saving from eternal death (annihilation)] through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.

Thus, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching], for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man [and woman] of God may be perfect, throughly [thoroughly] furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

In essence then, when we pray to God to help us to understand the light of truth in the Bible, God will enlighten us by the word of God through the Holy Spirit.

If we have no opportunity to access a Bible, God will be our only Teacher, but God requires that everyone with the opportunity to have access to a Bible, receive the light of truth through their study of the Bible.

Without such enlightenment, no one can perceive the kingdom of God, or in other words, perceive God’s holiness and perfect love. That is to say, no person can see spiritual light.

The Blessing of Submitting to the Light

When God gives us spiritual ears to hear His word to us through the Holy Spirit, then it is that God can cause us to “go on unto [spiritual] perfection.” Hebrews 6:1.

That is to say, then it is that God is “laying…the foundation of repentance from dead works [of deep sorrow for our sins], and of faith toward God [through the Holy Spirit].” Hebrews 6:1.

If we are not like those who are “stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears…[and who] do always resist the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit]” (Acts 7:51) we shall be “justified.” Romans 5:1.

What does it mean to be justified? It means that you are now in right standing before God because your past sins have been forgiven by God, and “the love of God is [now] shed abroad [supernaturally poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5.

Then, immediately upon your justification (your being declared righteous by God) begins the lifelong process of “sanctification.” 1 Corinthians 1:30. In this process, you are tested by God so that you learn to overcome all temptations to sin and, hence, become “sanctified” (Acts 20:32), receiving eternal life from God.

To all who have been justified by God, He says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD [God] is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1. Here God speaks of the light of His holiness and perfect love as the sun shining upon the individual.

Such individuals will know and understand God’s love and, therefore, can say of themselves in truth, only “in thy [God’s] light shall we see [spiritual] light.” Psalm 36:9.

“For ye were sometimes [at some time in the past] darkness [being blinded by Satan], but now are ye light in the Lord…(For the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord [God].” Ephesians 5:8-10.

This then is the blessing of submitting to the light of God’s love.

The Destiny of Those Who Walk in the Light

Those persons who walk in the light of God’s love, can say of themselves in truth, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of [God’s] judgment [day]: because as he [Christ] is [holy], so are we [also holy] in this world” (1 John 4:17), “this present evil world.” Galatians 1:4.

To such people, God says, “Blessed is the man [individual] that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [tested by God], he shall receive the crown of [eternal] life, which the Lord [God] hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12.

The Destiny of Those Who Fail to Walk in the Light

To those people who fail to walk in the light of God’s love, God says, “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass [bind] yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your [own] fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine [God’s] hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow [in eternal death which is annihilation].” Isaiah 50:11.

Such people will eventually say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20.

That is, such people have let the opportunity to be saved by God pass them by and it is now too late for them to become qualified to receive eternal life from God. Instead they will receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

Conclusion

We have considered our Bible verse of focus in this post: “And he [God] will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail [veil] that is spread over all nations.” Isaiah 25:7.

In unpacking this Bible verse, we have seen that the works of Satan in bringing spiritual darkness upon the world is always successfully counteracted by the light of God’s love through Jesus Christ when we submit ourselves to God’s light.

Be wise and so be sure to submit yourself to the light of God’s love so that Satan cannot cast a veil of darkness over your mind and heart, and you will receive eternal life from God.

Note that, in this blog post, I brought one of my own life experiences to mind and, therefore, found relevant Bible texts to get an understanding of the spiritual lessons learnt from that experience. Also, questions were asked of our Bible verse of focus and so other relevant Bible texts were found to help in understanding the Bible verse of focus.

The Bible Teaches Us How to Obtain Eternal Life from God

“In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word [Christ] was made flesh [was born as a baby boy named Jesus], and dwelt among us [human beings], (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father).” John 1:14. Thus, Christ, whose “name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) is the One who gave the whole Bible to humanity, from the Bible’s beginning to its end. Further, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8), which is to say, Christ is love.

And every one of you as a human being are to “lay apart [put away] all filthiness and superfluity [abundance] of naughtiness [of wickedness], and receive with meekness the engrafted [the implanted] word [from God, which is the Bible and], which is able to save your souls [from annihilation by God as the penalty for sin].” James 1:21. For the word of God, the Bible, being implanted in us means that “the love of God is shed abroad [is poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5. So then, “love is of God; and every one [every human being] that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. This is known as “justification” (Romans 4:25) which is accomplished by our repentance, that is, our deep sorrow for our sins and the gift of faith from God, which when exercised to believe God’s promise of forgiveness of sins and cleansing from sin brings us the gift of love from God. Note that everyone receives the gift of faith from God but without repentance people have a superficial faith and not saving (correct) faith that takes proper hold of God’s truth by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately upon our justification, God tests our character to see if we will successfully resist all temptation to sin. Our success depends on our exercising faith in Christ’s keeping power through the Holy Spirit and, hence, we become sanctified (made holy) and thus receive eternal life from God.

And this is life eternal [everlasting life], that they [as human beings] might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [to the earth as a Deliverer from sin].” John 17:3. Thus, when the whole Bible makes our character a character of perfect love, it means that we know God and, hence, we will receive eternal life from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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