The Fine Print: Face Recognition—Who Do You Look Like?
- Apr 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 19
Your reflection determines your access.
Face Recognition: Unlocking the Glory of Christ in Us
Lord, help us to listen to you with open hearts. Reveal anything that prevents us from reflecting your image.
Do y’all remember when we had to trace a pattern to unlock our phones? Or when fingerprint scans were the new wave? And who could forget that good old four-digit PIN? Ok, good. I’m not alone.
Now, we’ve got face recognition—just a quick glance, and boom! Unlocked. I love it because nobody else has my face—my device is secure.
But I noticed something…Whenever I take off my glasses, my phone struggles to recognize me. Sometimes I have to adjust the lighting or reposition myself before it grants access. And here’s another thing—face recognition won’t work if my eyes are closed.
My, my, my! What does that tell us?
A few weeks ago, we talked about staying spiritually awake (if you missed it, here’s the link). Because staying awake grants access!
This whole face recognition thing... It’s deeper than technology. It’s spiritual.
Our access to God’s promises, favor, and purpose is tied to our identity in Christ.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Just like a device scans and recognizes a person’s face for access, our lives should reflect the image of Christ so that when the world looks at us—the Church, the royal priesthood, the children of the living God—we are recognized as His.
Let’s take a deep dive into The Fine Print to see what we have access to—and what it truly means to reflect Jesus.
Recognized by Heaven
Face recognition is all about alignment—your face has to match what the system is programmed to recognize in order to grant access. The same is true spiritually. We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), so when heaven scans us, it should recognize Him in us.
But here’s the thing…Not everyone who claims to follow Christ actually reflects Him. Some have distorted images, blurry reflections, or spiritual “glitches” that make our identity unrecognizable in the kingdom.
I know—that's a hard truth. I get it.
But friend, you and I were called to be image bearers of Christ (Romans 8:29). Think about it—just because someone knows the PIN code to your phone, that doesn’t mean they can access your face recognition on your behalf.
What do I mean?
Just because we know the Bible… Just because we can quote Scripture… Just because we never miss a church service… Yes, those things matter! And yes, we do receive from God through them.
But I’m talking about more than just knowing.
I’m talking about reflecting Jesus.
I’m talking about walking in the glory of God—the kind of transformation Paul is speaking of in 2 Corinthians 3:18.
This isn’t just about religious knowledge. This is a spiritual transformation.
Breaking Down 2 Corinthians 3:18—What Paul is Saying
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Let’s break that down.
🔎 "With unveiled faces"
Paul is referring to the veil that once covered people’s spiritual sight. In the Old Testament, Moses wore a physical veil after encountering God’s glory on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:29-35). But Paul is saying that in Christ, the veil is removed. Why?
Because through Jesus, we no longer have to be separated from God’s glory—we have direct access! (Hebrews 10:19-20).
🔎 "Being transformed into his image" This isn’t just behavior modification—this is a complete transformation.
The Greek word for transformed here is metamorphoō—the same root word for metamorphosis (like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly).
This means that when we behold Jesus, we aren’t just becoming better versions of ourselves—we are becoming more like Him.
🔎 "From glory to glory"
This transformation isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a process.
Every encounter with God should move us to another level of glory, another level of reflecting Him, and another level of access.
Unveiled Faces = Clear Access
Just like our phones need a clear and unobstructed scan to unlock, our spiritual access requires a clear reflection of Christ.
No distortions.
No obstructions.
No veil.
What does the veil represent?
☁️ Separation from God.
☁️ Sin that clouds our vision.
☁️ Religious rituals without true transformation.
But through Jesus, that veil is removed (2 Corinthians 3:16), and we are being transformed to reflect His glory more and more.
Bearing His Image: Our Spiritual Identity
In the natural world, face recognition technology works by analyzing unique facial features to confirm a person’s identity.
In the spiritual world, God created us to bear His image—to reflect His character, love, and truth in the world.
Genesis 1:27 reminds us:
“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
From the beginning, our identity was meant to align with God’s. But sin distorted that image, like a corrupted file that no longer matches the original.
Through Jesus, we are restored into that perfect reflection.
🔑 Application: The world should recognize Jesus in us. When people encounter us, do they see His love, grace, and truth?
Or do they see a distorted image influenced by "culture" ?
Access Granted: Transformation Through Christ
It’s frustrating when your phone or personal device doesn’t recognize your face, isn’t it? A smudge or poor lighting can interfere and prevent access.
The same is true spiritually. The more we reflect Christ, the more access we have to His power, presence, and promises. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that as we behold Christ, we are transformed into His image, from glory to glory.
🔑Application: If we’re not being transformed, we might struggle to access the fullness of what God has for us.
Just like a phone needs a clear scan to unlock, we must position ourselves in the right “light” (His presence) for our spiritual identity to be recognized.
The Counterfeit Image: When the System Fails
Sometimes, face recognition fails if an imposter tries to gain access. A person may try to trick the system with a photo or a similar-looking face, but the technology is designed to detect the real from the fake.
In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus warns:
"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"
This is a chilling reminder that spiritual access is not about outward performance—it’s about truly bearing His image.
🔑 Application: Are we truly known by Christ, or are we just going through the motions?
Prayer: Unveiling His Glory in Us
Lord, Thank You for creating us in Your image and calling us to reflect Your glory.
Remove anything in my life that distorts my reflection of You. Transform me daily so that I look more like Christ in my thoughts, actions, and words.
May my identity be found in You alone, and may I have full access to all that You have for me.
It is so! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
See you next week,
Conclusion: Stay in the Light
Just like face recognition works best in clear light, our spiritual transformation happens when we continually seek the light of Christ. If we want to walk in the fullness of God’s promises, we must let our lives be scanned by His Word and recognized by His Spirit.
We are the image-bearers of Christ—may the world see Him in us!
It's a daily choice, Friend.
