Faithful Likeness

Today's Verse:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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. ~1 John 3:2 

---

There are two striking things about either a married couple or a family. In a family, it is the resemblance that children have to each other. With couples who have been married for a long time, it is how similar they look in resemblance as well. Our passage this morning speaks to us about the future glorification of the believer.  

We see the Lord and His children. 

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God.…” We become sons of God when by faith we believe on the name of the Lord Jesus as our Savior. We become God’s sons through spiritual adoption. Before we became sons of God, we were children of the devil. Our eternal destiny was headed to Hell. When by faith we accepted Jesus as Savior, God instantly made us His sons. No wonder John said, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” As sons, we can never lose this blessed relationship. 

We see the Lord and our conformity. 

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.…” The believers were asking John what we will look like in Heaven. That’s a good question. When we look at pictures of ourselves from babyhood to adulthood, we go through many physical changes. When we get saved, God starts doing the work of sanctification in our lives. This is where we are spiritually being molded into His image. The Bible calls this conformity. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). As we walk this pilgrim life before we get to Heaven, God’s will is that we are being conformed into His image. This occurs through time in the Word, prayer, trials, service, and letting God work in and through us. 

We see the Lord and His coming. 

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear….” The coming of our Lord for us is imminent. His coming is according to His timetable and not ours. He will come for us as a thief in the night. There will be the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The dead in Christ shall rise incorruptible, then we which are alive and remain will be caught up in the air to be forever with the Lord. Jesus is coming soon! Make sure you are ready and prepared when He comes! 

We see the Lord and our conversion. 

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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.” A conversion means a complete change and transformation. 1 John 3:2 answers the question of what we will look like when we enter into eternity. We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21). Our Lord will change us into His image and resemblance. Our bodies will be immortal and incorruptible. You could say we will have a makeover. This is glorification — when we are free from the presence of sin. 

What an exciting anticipation of what we will look like one day. Next time you look in the mirror, imagine what it will be like when we are changed into the image of our Lord. 

Have a sanctifying God Morning! 

Bible Reading Schedule: Galatians 1-3

#1John #Christlikeness #Glorification