“IMAGE OF HIS SON!”

Romans 8:28-30                           (ESV)

“28 And we know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to HIS purpose.

29 For those whom HE foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the “IMAGE OF HIS SON”, in order that HE might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those whom HE predestined HE also called, and those whom HE called HE also justified, and those whom HE justified HE also glorified.”

Just this weekend our fellowship was watching a video series entitled “BEHOLD YOUR GOD” and a couple of phrases used by the presenter really caused me seriously look at the level I look to SEE GOD.   They were “Have we invented a GOD WHO will do whatever we want” and “Is HE (GOD) enough for you”?  

Several people claiming to be ministers of the gospel regularly espouse proclaiming to love for Christ will bring health, wealth and prosperity.  However, the same JESUS they claim to worship is recorded as saying in John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. But take heart; I have overcome the world." JESUS most certainly COULD have just as easily said (in HIS final conversation with HIS disciples before HE went to Calvary) words that would assure their health, wealth and prosperity, but HE knew “this world” was only a brief moment of our LIVES and eternity is what we needed to be concerned with.  

Instead, JESUS instructed us on how to have PEACE, and prepare ourselves for eternity with HIM!  The only way to have assurance that we will spend eternity with HIM, is “to be conformed to the “IMAGE OF HIS SON”!  The only way for that to happen is to surrender to GOD’s calling you “out of darkness into HIS marvelous light”! 

But what life is HE “calling into”?  Could HE be calling us into “health, wealth and prosperity?”  I’m sure Ananias and Sapphira (Acts chapter 5) THOUGHT they were healthy, wise and prosperous IN THEIR OWN EYES!  When we cloud our “eternal vision” with the things of “this world”, our Spiritual Compass can become misguided and lead us astray.  It is IMPERATIVE that we “fix our EYES on JESUS, the author and finisher of our FAITH” and adapt to HIS Plan for our lives, not trying to have our CREATOR adjust to our foolish desires!   

Seeing your hearts desires change before your very eyes FOR HIS GLORY can be a sign that the SPIRIT OF GOD has taken up residence inside of your heart?  Knowing that GOD ALMIGHTY is molding us into the “IMAGE OF HIS SON” is the greatest blessing and honor one can imagine!  The price JESUS paid to bring about this transformation (Divine imputation) was indescribable, yet we n brush it off as something we are owed!  GOD allowed JESUS to humbled HIMSELF to death on the cross so that I can be seen in the “IMAGE OF HIS SON”!!!  SIMPLY AMAZING!!!