“Dear Friends,
We are God’s children NOW,
And it has not yet been made clear
what we will become.
We DO KNOW
That when He appears,
We will be like Him;
Because we will see Him as He really is.”
1 John 3:2
It seems to be a universal part of human nature to look at children and notice a resemblance to their parents. People will make comments about a child’s facial features, unique little gestures, hair and eye color, a sense of humor, as well as propensities to behaviors that have been seen in action by the child’s parent or relative.
Families will recognize behaviors, or likenesses, vocal similarities, eye color, little gestures, speech, and temperaments that they observe, both good and bad. Similar talents that emerge in a child often resemble those of a parent.
When we consider God as our Father, and note His Presence in our lives, how He Speaks . . . how He Blesses . . . how He Guides . . . how He Comforts . . . how He Corrects . . . how He Loves . . . we have the opportunity to mimic Him, just as a child mimics a parent. Intentional or often without realizing it, a child will display an expression, a gesture, an attitude, a way of pronouncing a word, and lots of ordinary life actions that people in our familiar circle recognize as a resemblance to a parent or grandparent.
It’s “natural” to reflect our parents or other significant people in our lives. It’s not usually something that is a result of a conscious effort.
John is giving a “tall order” for us to become “like Him…Jesus.” The Bible speaks of reflecting Him in our lives. . . through changing us. But it’s starting from the very deepest part of our being.
I remember in my late high school years, the “Jesus Revolution” began in California. “Jesus People” were in the news. Then some young men from Texas came to the Fox Valley. . . wearing bluejeans and sandals. Strumming guitars, singing simple songs about Jesus. They were visibly changing on the outside. Long hair, beards, sandals, calling each other “brother” and “sister,” and playing guitars and singing in a circle gently rocking as they sang simple songs of Jesus. As a generational Christian with a heritage of strong Bible-believing, hymn-singing, piano and organ playing, and sitting on the front pew every Sunday, Mom at the organ and Dad in the pulpit, this unexpected scene change was fascinating and delightful to me. The new Believers did not look like hymn-singing, suit-and-tie Scripture-memorizing “church people.”
But the Light in their eyes and Peace in their hearts, and the smiles on their faces told the Story of a New Life that was now inside of them. They even began referring to one another as “brother” and “sister.”
They were taking on a “Family Resemblance” . . . from the inside.
The Apostle John had physically followed Jesus. He had experienced the miracles, the crowds coming to see and hear Jesus teach, heal, and Love. He had seen Jesus. He had walked with, talked with, eaten with, shared so much with Him. Yet, John was looking forward to a Future Time to come, when there would be nothing in the way of seeing Jesus, face to Face, as He REALLY IS. . . not limited to a human form and its earthly realities, but WHO HE IS.
May our hearts grow to long . . . with joy and hope and expectation . . . LOVE, longing to SEE Him as He really is, and as a result, be changed in every speck of our Being . . .
To Be like Him . . . in every way!
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