Let The Change Begin

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2 NLT)

A future hope? You bet!

But so much more.

It’s the promise of change; from an unregenerate, selfish human being into a brand new, born again Christ follower. A partaker of God’s nature, an imitator of Jesus’ ways, and one who is growing to look exactly like Christ.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT)

But what did John mean, “We shall see him as he really is”?

How do we REALLY get to know another person? It doesn’t take much effort to know someone casually. But knowing them intimately, even to the point of imitating their speech and manners; well, that calls for a lot of personal study and communion.

We may not be able to explain to anyone, including ourselves, just what God is doing in our life. And we may not comprehend the length, breadth, height, or depth of what Jesus is transforming us into. But we can know at least one thing for sure; he is transforming us into the very image of the Father. For “if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”

Yes, we’re going to really be dressed up one of these days, when we take off this old earth suit, and put on our new, heavenly suit.

But let’s allow the change to begin now! Let’s spend our lives looking at Jesus. Following him through the gospels, watching him work, hearing him teach, and experiencing the power of his Spirit as he draws us into each and every story.

This is how we begin to “see him as he is.” It’s how to “share his divine nature”, and be formed into his image.

It’s not a promise for an elite chosen few; no, it’s a promise for all who will look “unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”

We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

It is Heaven for sure!

So let the change begin.