SEP 29

1 John 3:1-2
Memorise 1 John 3:2
“we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”

Through the past few months, we have learnt more about what Christ was like, and have been taught to emulate His perfect example. Yesterday, we understood that we will one day be given this perfect glorified body, but do we know exactly what this means? 

Even the Apostle John, who had seen the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh after His resurrection, did not really have that clear an idea of the full extent of how the glorified body will be like. For him the hope was that when the Lord Jesus Christ returns and grants us the glorified body, we shall be like him! This is the simple assurance and promise made to all believers – that one day we shall be like him, and be able to see Him face to face! Indeed what a wonderful promise this is, to know that the same perfect body that Jesus Christ possessed when he rose from the dead will be given to us. Although we do not have many clues as to exactly how this new body will function, and what we can or cannot do, we do know that it will be the very best as it is from God. We know that it will be an immortal body that will never fail and weaken like our present physical forms. We also know that we will be able to eat as Jesus did so in Luke 24:42. But above all, the most precious aspect of this promise is that we will be like Him, incorruptible and no longer having to struggle with sin, but able to now have perfect fellowship with God and the fellow saints for eternity.

Right now, all these things might seem to be just a very distant dream to many of us. The reality is that are still struggling with our sinful flesh and our wicked desires. We read of Jesus the perfect example, but we know that our lives are so far away from that high standard. Dear Teen, do not be discouraged by the seeming insurmountable task before you. Sanctification is a gradual process that requires much prayer, much guidance and much help from the Holy Spirit. We must yield ourselves to the Lord and ask that He be the one to help us in our quest for sanctification, purity and holiness. If God has promised that He has justified us, is sanctifying us, and will glorify us, then we can rest assured knowing that He will surely fulfil it. Let us take heart and be encouraged by the knowledge that we will one day be like Christ, and therefore in the meantime, press on in our sincere and earnest desire to be more and more like Jesus, our perfect example.

Thought: Knowing that I will be like Christ one day should spur me on in my quest to be more and more Christ-like each day.
Prayer: Lord I thank You for the wonderful promise of glorification. May You help me to always look forward to this blessed hope.