Topic: We shall be like Jesus
Bible Reading: Daniel 3-4; 1 John 3.
Memory Verse: “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.” 1 John 3:2 (KJV)
We do not know how Jesus will look like when we meet Him after the rapture but you can be like Him then. As believers in Christ you have been adopted as a son of God ( 1 John 3:1). Therefore, God will put on you a new body, an incorruptible body after the rapture. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV) tells us, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Whether you are alive at that time or dead, and it does not matter what kind of death you died as your old body will no longer be relevant, you shall be given a new body as the son of God. That new body will be same like that of Jesus Christ at the time of rapture. This is clearly stated in 1 John 3:2 (KJV), “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.”
But for you to be like Him at that time, there are conditions that must be fulfilled now while you are living on this earth. These conditions include purifying yourself to ensure you live a life of purity. Jesus is pure and you must be pure now to be like Him then ( 1 John 3:3). This means you should run away from sin and anytime you mistakingly fall into it, you show remorse and repent immediately while also noting it so that you do not habitually commit such sin. Anyone who commits sin regularly is not a child of God and needs to repent and rededicate his life to Christ. “No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him.” 1 John 3:6 (AMP).
This also means you will love people around you because God is love. And if you cannot show love to your neighbour, that is people around you, then you cannot really show love to God because God created all human beings in His own image. And if you love Him, you will love those He created in His image! 1 John 3:17 (KJV) reminds us, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
And finally to be called His son, you must obey His commandments which means you should study His word regularly, understand it and obey the commandments, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” 1 John 3:23 (KJV).
However if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour or you have backslided, you need to rededicate your life to Him first by believing in Him and then obey His commandments.
Action point: Examine yourself to see what area you are not keeping God’s commandments and make adjustment today.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero