February 23, 2003
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many
brethren.
When a mother shows off
her newborn, admiring friends will remark, “he looks just like his daddy”, or,
“my, how much she looks like your Aunt Gertie!”
Did you know that all
believers in Jesus have a family likeness?
While we are on this earth this likeness is in our characteristics. In Philippians 2:5 we read, “Have this
attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What is this attitude? The answer is found in Galatians 5:22-23,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self- control . . . “
However, one day we will
be fully like our Lord Jesus Christ, -“conformed to His image” as we see in
today’s verse. This means the full,
final and complete part of the believer’s redemption – the believer’s actual likeness
to Christ. This change will be not only
in attitude, character and nature, but also physically (and the older I get,
the more I look forward to that perfect body)!
What does it mean to be
“conformed to the image of His Son (Jesus)”?
• “Christ
conformity” does not mean that we will all be prototypes of Christ. Each of us will retain our own
individuality. We will recognize each
other. It does mean that our body will
undergo a complete change in molecular structure – the type and substance of
our Lord’s body (Philippians 3:20-21).
This body will be completely adapted to our new environment – Heaven!
• The new
body will not be composed of flesh and blood (I Corinthians 15:50 ff).
• The new
body will be indestructible (I Corinthians 15:42, 53). We will no longer face sickness or death.
• The new
body will be a glorious body (I Corinthians 15:43). Our new body will reflect the divine nature that indwells it!
• The new
body will be powerful (I Corinthians 15:43) – like the Energizer Bunny we will
go on and on and on!!!
• The new
body will be a spiritual body (I Corinthians 15:44). The source of our natural life is our blood while the source of
our new body will be Christ’s Spirit within us.
• The new
body will be a heavenly body (I Corinthians 15:47-49). It will be adapted to a new dimension of
existence – Heaven!
So
how should all of this affect us today in our walk with the Lord?
On March 11, 1830, a little English
girl was doing her lessons with her tutor, and the lesson that day had to do
with the royal family. As she studied
the genealogical chart in the book, she became aware of the astounding fact
that she was next in line for the throne!
At first she wept, and then she looked at her tutor and said, “I will be
good!” The fact that little Victoria would
one day be queen motivated her to live on a higher level.
Beloved,
as believer’s we are today children of the King of Kings. Let’s live accordingly. God bless.
Love to you all,