I attended a recent service that focused on the Transfiguration, the moment when Jesus revealed himself to three of his followers on a mountain.

The text can be found in Mark 9:2-9. Put yourself in the place of one of his followers. Imagine what it must have been like:

²Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and john, and led them up to a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, ³and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶He did not know what to say for they were terrified. ⁷Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” ⁸Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.⁹As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Wouldn’t it be so much easier if Jesus could appear today, make himself known in no uncertain terms as he did to the these three followers, so that there could be no doubt?

Sure. But being a Christian isn’t about easiness. It’s a struggle at times to be faithful, especially when you see all of the injustices in the world. Having faith isn’t supposed to be easy: it’s supposed to be a struggle. That’s what makes it all the more rewarding when you come out of a crisis with your faith and devotion intact.

It’s hard sometimes to know what the right words are when you try to explain God to someone who doesn’t believe. Actually, it’s hard almost all of the time, because there’s no easy script to follow. If it doesn’t come from your heart, then it’s just the recitation of words. If you don’t try to conduct yourself in a Christian manner, then you’re a hypocrit. And either way, your credibility as a witness to God’s Word is hurt.

If you could step into a room and see God, face to face, and it would eliminate any doubt in your mind as to whether He exists, would you step inside? Would it destroy your way of life knowing that God does exist? If so, doesn’t that in itself tell you something?

Those of us who do believe because of things we’ve felt haven’t witnessed something as definitive or dramatic as the Transfiguration. But our own experience is just as real to us. That experience is our own moment when everything changes, when nothing is ever quite the same again.

I wish everyone will experience their own moment of revelation while they’re still able to benefit and grow from it.