Seeing Jesus

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2

I do not claim to understand how the glorification will work or what all it will encompass. But Scripture shows that there is something about the future fullness of the revelation of Jesus which will radically change our entire beings to conform our bodies and spirits to be like His. When finally there remains no longer this veil of ambiguity between Him and us; when we fully see Him not as a set of facts but as an absolutely real Person; when the unspeakable glory of the spiritual essence of this divine Man is communicated to us in its infinite totality, we will instantly be purged of the presence of sin into which we were born, as darkness is instantly dispelled by light. And thus our transformation into godliness will be complete. Think of it! From that moment on, everything you think, say, and do will always fully please and glorify God!

The clear implication then is one that John expects us to see, and one which he next teaches (v. 3-10). If the full revelation of the Person of Jesus will effect the whole of our ultimate transformation in the future, then it is the duty, the glory, and the joy of all God's children to see as much of the fullness of Jesus as is possible now, that in so doing we may be changed more into His likeness even this very hour.

This is sanctification-- not the rigorous pursuit of an ever-elusive standard of human morality, not a list of do's and don'ts to which we seek to adhere, though sanctification always results in holy living-- rather, the source of sanctification is the rest in and communion with the divine Man, who by His radiant presence alone makes us holy. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Oh Christian, pursue Christ! Look unto Him and see there God's unfathomable provision for your holiness, already poured out for you and in you!

"Therefore let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2

"Sir, we wish to see Jesus." John 12:21