“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.” (1st John 3:2)
I would ask you to carefully consider the following words and contemplate them at length often.
When the trials and tribulations approach, when suffering is your daily companion, your bed is wet with tears, or fear attempts to cover you like a shroud, remember these words.
The first time you see the Lord Jesus Christ face to face, you will wonder why you were ever concerned with any of those things.
Now see Him that way, right now, and never lose that thought.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
I want to reassure you with something that I personally believe to be a truth, when our Savior was on that cross, He saw you just as clearly as He saw those in the crowd, a multitude of those who have trusted in His name.
We will be like Him.
During the Millennial Period, mankind will still sin, in a way we are not told, they will still be tempted, they will rebel, openly and inwardly, and we may at times find ourselves amongst them, yet without sin. He was tempted, and in a way I cannot prove, we may be tempted in those days and even throughout eternity, but we will never again fall to those temptations.
The love that we are to have for our neighbors we will finally be able to express fully, with no embarrassment, no hesitations, the heart that deceives us will be gone forever.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1st Cor. 13:12)
My beautiful wife is a treasure to me, yet she has difficulty putting into words what her mind and heart know, that will change. The lust of the eyes and the flesh that plague all of us will be removed, we will see beauty as it is, truth in love will flow from our lips, we will be like Him.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
Our praise will finally be unhindered, unfettered by concerns for ourselves, the glory that we have always wanted to ascribe to the Almighty will come from us with ease. The joy we experience occasionally will never cease, pleasures forevermore, gratitude beyond anything we can express today will be ours to give to Him without being compromised by the cares of this life, by the cares of this world.
We will finally be free.
No matter how you view your Redemer in your mind’s eye, see Him smiling at you, see His outstretched arms beckoning you, see the radiance of love emanating from Him for you.
And then ask yourself today, what was I ever worried about.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
There is a calm assurance that is available only to those who have been born-again, the burdens are lifted, life is lived for His glory, and in anticipation we wait daily for that day when we will finally be like Him. Those thoughts should free your mind my friends, they should bring rest to your soul, remove all the cares of this world, of the pressures of our adversary, of the promptings of the flesh.
Redeemed, justified, being sanctified and one day glorified.
When we will be like Him.
Faith carries us through the day, hope in the promises carries us through each day, love drives us to serve Him who first loved us.
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24)
He has, He will continue to, and one day, when you stand before Him you will be able to say, “What was I ever concerned about?”
Start doing that today.
