When He appears we shall be like Him

 

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:2 ESV

This verse is one of the most encouraging verses in the bible. First, as Christians we are children of God right now. It's not like some day, down the road we will become children of God when we are in heaven. We are His now! He claims us as His. We don't look any different than anybody else, yet we are children of God.

But, we know the day is coming when we will be changed as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15: 52, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.ESV We will no longer be mortal but, immortal. John says we don't yet know what we will be like in that state, but when He returns for us we will be like Him.

It is exciting to think of the day when we will be like Him. We won't be dealing with all of the human failings and weakness we do now. That day those things will all pass away. That day will come to those that remain His “faithful” children.

Think about what Paul wrote about being God's children in Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.ESV That eternal reward will come after we have lived a life sacrifice to Him.

So today, look to the future and know that at the end of the journey we too will be glorified as Christ was glorified.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

See what kind of love the Father has given to us

 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1 ESV

At the beginning of chapter 3 John reminds his readers of the love that God has for us. He points out the fact that God calls us His children. He finishes that statement with “and so we are”. He declares that, yes we are are children of God. What a wonderful gift God has given us in Christ, we are His children.

He goes on to explain that is why the world looks at us the way they do. Because as Christians we are different than they are, they don't know us. Why? Because they don't know God, He is foreign to them. If God is foreign to the world, then so are His children. When we become children of God (christians) we become strangers in a strange land.

But we are at home somewhere else where we are recognized and loved as Paul said: “so then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” Ephesians 2:19 ESV We are members of the household of God. We are under His love, leadership and protection.

What an amazing love God has for us! He has taken us in to His household and given us all that He has through His Son. God is no longer a stranger to us, He is our Father. This was His plan for us, that we would be adopted as sons; “he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” Ephesians 1:5 ESV The whole purpose in sending Jesus was to bring us back home.

So today, meditate on this verse and God's love for you. Thank Him and praise Him for His love toward you. Remember to day you are a child of God.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman