Topic: Beyond The Physical Appearance [16th December 2017]
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).
When we say, “…as he (Jesus) is, so are we in this world,” the picture that comes to the mind of some is the build, height, complexion, hair or the physical characteristics of the man Jesus, while He was on earth. It’s much more than that. Our semblance is with the resurrected Christ, the glorified Jesus.
Yes, before His resurrection, He worked wonders and performed mighty miracles. He commanded the deaf ears to be opened, the blind eyes to receive sight, maimed limbs to be made whole and raised the dead back to life. But notice that John the apostle didn’t say, “as he was, so are we in this world”; that would have been wonderful. But, the Spirit carefully used the word “is” showing us that we’re just as He is, in His present state; in His glorified state. Hallelujah!
The impressive thing about His appearance isn’t His beards, complexion, or height; it’s the glory and the life emanating from Him, so much so that at such instance, you don’t even remember the fleshly description. You’re absorbed into His glory. Read it again: it says, “as he is,” in other words, as He is the resurrected, ascended, triumphant and glorified Christ, so are we in this world. Such blessedness!
That’s why it’ll be amiss to try to figure Jesus out in a Jewish body, or to even be flesh and body conscious. Be spirit conscious. Don’t appraise yourself by your physical appearance; you’re glorified just as Jesus. He’s not recognised in the flesh (Luke 24:15-16, 31, 35). So don’t describe yourself by your earthly nativity or human affiliations.
See yourself in Him and as the glory of God: “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; …” (John 17:22). Romans 8:30 says, “Moreover whom he did predestinate…them he also glorified.” 1 John 3:2 says,
“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.” We may not look like Him outwardly, but that doesn’t matter. We’re right now the sons of God like Jesus; inwardly, in our spirits, we already look like Him. Blessed be God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for showing me the truth of who I am in Christ. As Jesus is, so am I in the world. I’m glorified, and conscious that the life of God is in me, and evidently manifested in and through me. Thank you for making me the effulgence of your glory, and the revelation of your righteousness, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: John 3:13, 1 John 3:2 Hebrews 2:11
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 8, Obadiah
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 21:1-12, 2 Chronicles 30
