We Shall Be Like Him – Part II
Today’s Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7
Key Verse: 1 John 3:2b
But we do know that we will be like Him…
First John 3:2, reminds us that we believers are already God’s children. However, we do not yet know what we will be like when Christ returns.
This verse is referring to the second coming of Jesus to this earth. Every Christmas we celebrate his first coming, but someday He is coming again!
Many of us probably have wondered what we will look like in God’s final and completed Kingdom. Though it is true, as John wrote, that we do not know all the answers to our questions, we do know that we will have bodies that are “spiritual, imperishable, and raised in glory and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:35-54).
John answers the question of what we can know in today’s Key Verse: “But we do know that we will be like Him”. The “Him” in that statement is Jesus.
The moment believers pass from this world to the next and see Jesus face-to-face, we will see perfected our earthly efforts to be like Him! This does not mean we will be a god, but we will be like Jesus in our purity and holiness.
True believers feel terrible when we stumble and sin. When this happens, it can be difficult to believe God still loves us. How wonderful it will be when we no longer experience such times of discouragement and shame over our lack of purity and holiness. We will be like Jesus!
If you are a believer, how does this motivate you? The Apostle John says, in 1 John 3:3, that if we have the expectation of seeing Jesus face-to-face, we will “keep ourselves pure, just as He is pure”.
Do you agree with me that any person who has become a Christ-follower wants to be pure in heart because of God’s grace?
In Jesus’s first major sermon, the Beatitudes, He said: “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8). Yes, we want to see God and be confident that we will hear the words “well done good and faithful servant… Come and share your master’s happiness.” (Matthew 25:21-23).
With these verses in our minds, join me in the daily challenge to be pure in our thoughts and our behavior. We will never perfect our purity, in this life, but when we see Jesus, we will become like Him and enjoy purity in all ways throughout eternity.
Father, remind me often to keep my mind and heart pure before you. I praise you for your mercy and forgiveness when I fail in my efforts. Keep me strong until that glorious day when I will see you face-to-face! In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.