You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

--Parallel verses:
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.

In this world there are many examples of simultaneous races being run. In football, there are 16 games in a season, and then certain teams qualify for the playoffs, with the hope of eventually playing for the Super Bowl. In the regular season, you are playing to both win the game and also to qualify for the playoffs.

In singing competitions, they start with 40-50 singers who hope to get noticed. They all compete and there is one winner. However, they are singing not just to win the competition, but also to sign a recording contract and build their career.

In high school, students learn to earn good grades. They do this to not only pass their classes so they can advance and get a high school diploma, but also to gain scholarships and be accepted into a good college or gain a good job.

In this passage, Paul is talking about the running of two races in life. We all live in a society and have to obey rules established to have a prosperous society. We also have good works we can do to help other people. Some of these rules include paying federal and state taxes, obeying the county road signs, and abiding by the cleanliness standards set by our city. Some of these good works include giving food to the needy, helping kids who don’t have school supplies, and coaching sports teams or arts groups.

As we live, if we are only focused on the rules and good works we can do by ourselves, we miss much of the life the God intended for us to live. There is another part of life here that we can excel in that will last forever! As disciples of Jesus Christ, this simultaneous life is the one we live with God's Spirit. When Jesus died for our sins on a cross, he opened up to us a new life of incredible joy and love in direct relationship with God. God actually gives us his Spirit to live inside of us.

The Galatians had neglected this second life and been deceived that the material things, positions, and power of this world was the main goal. Paul is trying to wake them up. And he is using harsh language to call them out of this stupor. He calls them fools. As Christ-followers, if we allow sin to enter our hearts and remain unrepentant, we are not able to access God’s Spirit, he will not listen to our selfish prayers, and we begin to drift away from him. Our eyes become darkened, as if a veil was put over them, and we cannot see clearly to run that second race we are called to — the race of eternal life.

Paul talks about this in Corinthians too. Prior to the parallel verses he discusses how the Israelites were under the law that brought death. They could not look upon a holy God because of their sin. This is why Moses’ face was veiled from them after he spent time with God.

But now the veil has been taken away so that we can receive the gift of salvation that Jesus gave by paying for our sins on a cross, and we can see God. We can approach him. He sees us who are following Christ as cleansed.

So why would we want to go back to our old way of life and live as those who have no hope for eternity live? It truly is a foolish decision.

Lord, thank you for this harsh word of correction that Paul gives the Galatians. Thank you also for the call to get right with you. We need to be reminded constantly to stay in a right relationship with you. Root out the sin in my heart and make me a pure vessel for your work each day!