Over and over again I hear from the people who know Jesus as their Savior that they desire to be like Him. They, like myself, know that there are ways about themselves that just do not align with the way Jesus thinks, the way Jesus acted or even the way Jesus talked. Whenever anyone really encounters just how marvelous Jesus was and is there always seems to be a shortcoming on their part, and sometimes because of this other people who do not know the Lord Jesus are turned off to Him. Let me begin today by apologizing to those of you who may be reading these words for any behavior that has not reflected our Lord Jesus. John the apostle helps us all in today's verse by showing us there is more to be obtained, and the likeness of Jesus will one day be here. He writes in First John chapter three verse two:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
First, notice again John's word “Beloved”. This precious apostle wants his readers to know again and again that they are loved, and he emphasizes this love by making the statement he made in the first verse of this chapter by calling us “the sons of God”. God desires a family of children, and His children are loved. Over and over the phrase is repeated and the title is given so that we will not forget it. But then, as though there is a bonus attached, John shares one of the greatest thoughts within the words of the scriptures: “and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;”
We who have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ have no idea of what the Lord has in store for us. We cannot see it yet, and to try to imagine it all will always leave our minds in a quandary. This much we can know though, when He appears, we shall be like Him. All of our failures, our shortcomings, our sin, and our inability to walk, talk and be like Jesus will be gone. Our lives will be complete, and the finished work of God will be done in our lives. John the apostle was writing this after knowing Jesus for sixty years or so, and if he had a desire to be like him, we are in good company. One day, dearly beloved, we shall be like Jesus.
Why is this so? John answers this question in his next phrase: “for we shall see him as he is.” Although John saw Jesus on the Earth and had a glimpse of the glory of Jesus on the mount of transfiguration (See Matthew 17 and Mark 9), he knew that he would one day see Jesus again “as He is.” Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will appear again some day, and those who see Him shall be changed into His image and be like Him. There is a glorious appearing of Jesus that will come according to the Bible, and those who see Him shall be changed. Paul the apostle wrote it this way in the book of First Corinthians chapter fifteen and verses fifty-one and fifty-two:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
There is indeed a change coming for those who are the sons and daughters of God, and those who know this, long for Jesus' return that they may be the complete fulfillment of all He has promised they will be.
Next time we shall discuss what John says should be the result of the knowledge of Jesus coming again. So, read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
No comments:
Post a Comment