Moses was called the friend of God. With Moses the LORD spoke “face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11 and Numbers 12:6-8). At one point, then, Moses asked of God a special favor, “I pray You, show me Your glory! (Exodus 33:18)” God answered his request by telling Moses, that he would hide Moses with His “hand”, pass all His goodness before him, but only ultimately let Moses “…see My back, but My face shall not be seen. (Exodus 33:19-23)” This was simply because no man can see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20). Of course, God doesn’t have a literal face and literal back; rather, these are metaphors for the full glory of God versus a diminished version of the glory of God. Thus, Moses was shown a diminished version of God, which was enough to cause Moses’ face to shine (Exodus 34:29) for a while. What a grand privilege!

We may envy Moses perhaps; but the principle actually applies even today to Christians today. You may have never thought of it this way before, but we have also been shown the “back” of glory.

Consider for example, that Jesus (divinity, equal to the Father) came in the flesh and as the apostle Philip asked (very much like Moses) to be shown the Father, Jesus said, “Have I been so long with you, and you do not know Me?” Moses had to content himself with the “back” of God; but what Christians have may be better than His “back”; we’ve had God live among us — Emmanuel. While among us, He showed us God’s mercy, compassion, wisdom, fiery anger at sin, forgiveness toward repentant hearts, focus on spiritual things rather than on material things, and more. Not God’s full glory, but glory enough to swell the heart with wonder and humility.

Connected to this, every Christian baptized into Christ has been granted the promise of Acts 2:38, the Holy Spirit indwelling us as the presence of God, an honor without equal in this world; but one day we’ll see and dwell with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to face (see 1 Cor. 13:12).

Right now, we are already God’s redeemed people. However, one day we will be “bought back” from this fallen world, doomed to death and corruption, and be full redeemed in resurrected bodies living in a new heaven and earth of perfection in the very presence of God (see Romans 8:18-25).  

While still living in this world, we are now saved, although we have the potential to fall away again (see the parable of the sower, Matthew 13). One day, however, but we will understand full salvation; a full and final rescue from a sin-filled, tragedy filled, sickness and pain filled, and death filled world (Revelation 21:4). A world so wondrously different that we cannot even imagine it (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

We have eternal, new life here, in the forms of our walk following after Christ and God’s promise. But one day we’ll get to live that same kind of life forever in a new heaven and earth — the promise fulfilled — a life greater and more glorious than any we’ve ever known or known about!

We know joy here, but one we’l know fullness of joy forever.

We are indeed sons even now, inheritors of the wonderful things God has in store for us; but only as “minor children”; one day we’ll “gain majority” and be full inheritors.

Every Sunday we have fellowship in communion with the Lord and with others; but this weekly communion is just the poor shadow of the grand banquet in Heaven

The list could easily go on, but the point is that as many blessings and privileges that we know here, we will know more fully at Jesus’ second coming. All that God will show us now is the “back” of the blessings, but one day we will see them face to face in all their glory and fullness.

While on earth below, we might grow weary and discouraged with things as they are; but we must always be mindful that the joys, promises, blessings, and hopes we have in Christ in the here and now are only — can only be— the “back” of those joys, promises, blessings, and hopes. The fullness to come is more, so much more.