Friday, August 22, 2014

Maranatha – Even So, Come, Lord Jesus Christ


 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 NKJV)

The completeness of what we shall be is not yet disclosed directly. It is a hidden Glory! While in the flesh we could not endure the sight of what we shall be. But we (children of God) know at His second coming, we shall be like Christ! We shall actually be like Him in immortality, in happiness, in holiness, in perfection, in purity. We shall be where He is. We shall be everything desirable, that ever so many words can express. Like him in a perfect freedom from sin, like him in the ardor and intense fervency of their love; like him in the perfection of grace, and the unspotted purity of his holy nature.

We are now the sons of God; this is the happiness of our present condition, we are as children in their minority; we are not grown up for the inheritance, but we are growing; we are not what we would be, we are not what we should be; we are not what we shall be; but blessed be God we are what we are; now are we the sons of God.

When we see Him as He is, we shall have “a clear and perfect knowledge of God, wherein consists our intellectual happiness; and shall be admitted into his immediate presence, where is all other happiness and glory, of which we are capable.” Dr. Wells

There are certain things about Christ and God that we may never fully understand or know while we are yet in the flesh even though full of the Holy Ghost. John had seen Jesus Christ transfigured on the mount but this too was partially obscured. The splendor of His infinite majesty reserved till Christ comes again. Paul knew this too well and wrote to the Corinthians;

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12, NKJV)

There is one thing which is clear, that we shall be like the Son of God; but what is fully involved in this is not made known. We see dimly, and that is why we have to apply our faith (remember we walk by faith and not by sight). But then (when He is revealed – at His second coming), it shall be face to face and I shall know Him fully. Hallelujah! On that day when He appears, it doesn’t matter where you the child of God shall be: in the grave, in a comma, asleep, in a theater being operated, in a wedding being married, in church, in a ma3, at work, in a plane, in America or Africa, when He appears we shall also appear with Him in Glory.

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:4 NKJV)

Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:21 NKJV)

Our bodies shall be transformed that we may be clothed in an immortal and glorious body. No more can we be subject to disease or pain or suffering. We shall attain the highest form of peace and bliss.

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (1Corinthians 15:49, NKJV)

So what my friends, can anything separate us from this hope? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18, NKJV)

Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Brother Job is a perfect example of a man who endured it all for the joy of seeing Him face to face. His hope was so alive in him when he said,

“And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:26, NKJV)

King David in his desire for God had this yearning that He will see Him. David said,

“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” (Psalms 17:15, NKJV)

That is, his glory, with a clear and immediate sight, with a full and comprehensive sight, with an assimilating and transforming sight, with an appropriating and possessive sight, with a satisfying and everlasting sight.
There is one thing that is needful for you and me to do, if we so have this hope in us. The desire to see Him face to face and to be in His immediate presence: purify ourselves.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:3 NKJV)
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8, NKJV)

None but the pure can see the infinitely Pure One.

Maranatha. Even so, come, Lord Jesus Christ!

To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; (Romans 2:7, RSV)


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