MORNING MANNA 7-29-21
LIKE HIM
“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
Having recently preached from this verse about “The Most Wonderful Quartet”, I can’t stop thinking about one particular point – “we shall be like him“. That fills my mind with wonder and my heart with joy. I can’t conceive of anything more glorious than that. Indeed the best is yet to come!
As we think about that, we need to remember that this is the end toward which God has been working since the day we were saved. Rom. 8:29 says, “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.” Knowing that, we should presently be growing toward that goal, and the Holy Spirit is working in us to do just that. 2 Cor. 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
In light of this I can’t help but think about how far short we now come to being what we shall become. We can’t even touch the hem of his garment. Even the best among us can’t come close to the perfection of Christ. Try as we may, at our best there is but a faint likeness to Him who is Altogether Lovely. Although we might move in that direction each day we never get there until we get there with Him. Although we are now the sons of God, not until then will we be like the Son of God.
1 Cor. 15:49-53 speaks of this tremendous transformation. It describes the fulfillment of God’s purpose for us- to be with Him and like Him. This perhaps is the greatest glory of heaven. Of all the things that seem too good to be true this is the most amazing. Surely you wonder, “How can it be?” The gap is so wide, the difference is so great, that it seems impossible. Yet “we know” it is certain. God has spoken and He cannot lie. As we now look unto Jesus we can say, “Someday I will be like that!” Every child of God shall be like “the Son of God“. Until then let us keep “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..” (Heb. 12:2), that we might “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Phil. 1:6), – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
