Today I want to start by confessing a guilty pleasure. I have loved the show “Project Runway” from the very first season. Those of you who know me in real life know that 1. I am not a fashion maven by any stretch of the word and 2. I can’t sew. My idea of high fashion is finding a great solid top to match a comfortable pair of jeans. I don’t even like prints! But I love watching ordinary people taking a piece of cloth and transforming it into something breathtaking in the span of an hour, minus commercials. When the big reveal on the runway happens, it is like magic to me.

I love a good story about transformation. To see someone change their life right before your eyes is a sight to behold. I have a young friend who spent years living on the streets when she was addicted to heroin. Now she is clean, runs her own fitness studio, and is a voice in the wilderness for recovery and hope. Her transformation story is profound and inspiring.

Today’s passage involves a moment of transformation, a big reveal, and a change that changed the world.

Luke 9 (The Message)

^28-31 About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white. At once two men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah—and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem.

Jesus’ appearance changed dramatically on the mountain. His companions also changed dramatically when Moses and Elijah joined him there. Luke describes it as a “glorious appearance.” When the disciples woke up from their nap, the glory was blinding and confusing:

^32-33 Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. When Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking.

Ahhh, Peter. So much like us! Have you ever blurted out something without thinking? I love Peter’s humanity.

^34-35 While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him.”

God appeared as a light-radiant cloud and everyone became deeply aware of him. This is something we should all be longing for … to encounter God in such a transformative way that we are deeply aware of his presence.

I think too often we are pretty unaware of God’s presence. Scripture assures us that God is with us, even unto the ends of the earth. But do we take the time to feel him? Do we take our eyes off of our worldly problems long enough to see him? Or are we asleep, like Peter, James, and John?

³⁶ When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen.

There is one major take-away here. God confirmed Jesus as his son and commands us to “Listen to him.”

Are you listening?

Do you see?

There is a big reveal waiting to happen in your life. Maybe it’s time to go to the mountain and pray.