I visited a church recently where the Sunday school teacher exhorted us all that since we were Christians we should "act like it". I wasn't at all intimated nor was I moved to action by those words since I had already concluded that acting like Jesus was an impossibility. Besides, we already have His righteousness, there's no point getting all worked up about trying to look like Him. No one can really, you know, look like Jesus. So I tidily categorized my teacher brother as unenlightened and went on my way. I had already blogged about this a few weeks ago and decided to remove the blog since I wasn't sure how I really felt about it. I wanted to have more insight into this whole idea of “looking like Jesus”. I’m glad I waited to re-post. I think I’ve learned something about this that I’d like to share with you. I will re-post the original (unedited) post entitled, “We Wish to See Jesus” at the end of this posting. I’m doing that because it’s an honest account of my thoughts at that time. I think we all go through times of trying to figure this walk out. That’s what this is about. I’ve pretty much come full circle on this subject. It’s not the first time, and it probably won’t be the last. I believe the reason we have at times this crazy idea that we can actually become sinless is because we already are sinless in Christ and we yearn to see the reality of that manifested here on earth. Which is why Jesus gave us the model prayer, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. So as crazy as it sounds, I still believe that we can live sinless lives here on earth, now. And I’m OK with actually believing it even though it seems impossible at the moment. Isn’t that what faith is? The trick is trusting Him to take me through it, in His time, in His patient, loving, merciful, sympathetic, forgiving, compassionate, faithful time. And in spite of myself!
Now, on to a lighter side of this subject. When some of us hear that we are to be “imitators of God”, we receive that exhortation something like this:
Now, on to a lighter side of this subject. When some of us hear that we are to be “imitators of God”, we receive that exhortation something like this:
But when we hear the entire exhortation of, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.” we lighten up a bit…
I realized when I read this verse recently (Ephesians 5:1) that children love to act like their parents. If you don’t believe me, take a look for yourselves…
Some children even like to act like their grandparents…
Some kids want to be imitators so much that they’re mesmerized by their parents…
As Christians reflecting the image of our Heavenly Father, we begin to see how important it is to be good role models for our children…
To inspire them to become like us…
To fight the good fight…
Before you know it, we actually begin to look like Jesus. Without even trying, without even noticing…
OK, so here's my original post about looking like Jesus. It's a bit raw, but honest...I'm better now...
We wish to see Jesus
I'm thinking of buying a Jesus outfit. Sandals, a brownish white robe with a rope around my waist, a dark beard and matching wig for my balding head. The only accoutrement would be a whip of cords, mostly for looks, but in hopes that I could show a display of righteous indignation at the opportune time.
Do you know anyone, ANYONE, who looks like Jesus? This question shook me to my core this morning while driving my truck home. It terrified me. Because I'm over fifty years old and I've never met anyone that actually looks like what I'm trying to look like, and what I've spent my entire Christian life trying to look like. Where did I get this idea from? How ludicrous it is that I have thought all this time that I would be the only man in my generation that would actually figure this thing out. I must have thought this. How else can you explain the fact that I was striving for something I've never seen in anyone else? I have imagined that I would reach this level of holiness in my life that I would be able to communicate to others and that they too would arrive, benefitting from my journey. I would save them years of frustrating defeats and disappointments. Yes, I have believed in the eventual sinless perfection of a human being. And although my understanding and belief in God's grace prevented me from burdening others (I hope) with this belief, I have carried it for all of my saved years. To be fair to myself, there have been moments when I consciously recognized the folly of this thinking. But the belief of sinless perfection has remained anchored deep within my soul. I believe the question posed to me this morning was from God Himself. And I'm on a continuing journey with Him for the answer.
We are being conformed to His image. We have the gift of His righteousness as our very own. We have the sinless perfection of Christ’s life (His Spirit) in us as God’s children. We are blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ. We are holy children of God.
Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.
Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying,
"Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:20-25
Your thoughts?
