How do we become like Christ Jesus’ image? Will it be a piece of cake?
Or will it be drudgery? We may not realize this but interestingly enough, from the very moment God had planned our entry into this world, He has been more committed to this than we are. It’s best that way, because if it were left to us, we would get as far as the end of our nose. And soon we would find the process a pain.
“You were created like God, and so you must please Him and be truly holy” (Ephesians 4:24 CEV) therefore “God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that He won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 CEV) this sums it all. He began and he will complete it no matter what. He is the author of our lives.
So does it mean that He will change you like Christ in a jiffy? No. On the contrary, He begins the good work in us by making the path difficult and sometimes...even treacherous. He works a conflicting yet an exquisite tapestry in our lives. He allows the opposite thing happen to you. Things you would probably never imagine could happen to you. Do you wish for Joy? Keep yards of linen ready to wipe away your tears, for sorrow will be an occasional guest. Do you need to be humble? Open your eyes to God’s redeeming love. Do you need a friend? Get ready for someone you simply dislike to enter your life. Need patience? Be prepared for aggravations from every angle. Need success? Be ready to embrace failures that are like the sands in your path. Do you need to learn how to love? Let up your antennas for someone you can’t stand/hate. Searching for peace? Tighten your seat belt, for disruptions and chaos are the potholes on your route. Desires to hone your self control? Gear up to tackle temptations, for it is everywhere. Do you need to learn how to forgive? Prepare to be betrayed, let down and have your heart broken into trillion pieces.
You ask...why would God do something like that? Why is He like this? Does He enjoy giving us conflicting situations? The opposite of what we desire? Is he some kind of killjoy in the heavenly realms? The simple reason is...He allows this for the very reason that He is the author of our lives and completes the work in us. He works in us through it all to perfect us for the final count down and to strengthen our faith in Him because “your faith will be like gold that has been tested in fire. And these trails will prove that your faith (and character) is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed.”
All these qualities that we need really belong to God. As Galatians 5:2 says...Love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control are the fruits of God’s Spirit in those who believe in Him. In a nutshell, He has provided all that we need. It is staring right at us yet we don’t see them until we are super desperate for it and cry out for His help.
Were we to could come up with all these qualities on our own, we’d misuse it. Worse still we wouldn’t need God in our lives. We’d think we had control of it and play God and set rules and formulas and steps that will take us to better ourselves. In that case, philosophy or religion would be just the right stuffs. But do you realize that the more philosophical and religious we become, the further we go away from God. Eventually, humane that we are, we create more mess than good in our attempt to right our lives. God created us lovingly with a “free will to choose”. There is no reason why anyone who believes God’s Word and heed them well should struggle so much to become like Christ, but we do, only because we chose to trust ourselves instead of God and eventually we are forced to discover it when we are at the edge. At all times... good, bad & ugly, the closer we draw to Christ, the more we become like Him.
Complete obedience, unconditional trust in His will and living in His terms is all we require to be like Christ. Seek and need Him earnestly - like the very air we breathe in.” Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”-James 4:8
“Smooth roads never make good drivers, smooth sea never makes good sailors, clear sky never makes good pilots & problem free life never makes a good person.” God lets it happen to us so we become perfect in every area of our lives. He permits the opposite to happen to recreate in us what we really are meant to be... to be complete in Christ...”His image... (Genesis 1: 26 - 27 CEV)” because “...everything was made for Him” (Colossians 1: 16 CEV)
Imonenla Imkong Phom
