29. Family Likeness
To say this in a way that is both shocking and memorable is to say that in eternity we will be as holy as God!
1 John 3:2 (ESV) Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Have you ever noticed how members of the same family often look similar to each other? Even married couples seem to grow alike over time. And what about the unexplained phenomena that pet owners resemble their pets! (Note to self, always choose wisely when buying a new pet.)
With families, these similarities are genetic. Earlier in this book, I mentioned that I shave my dad every morning in the mirror. He is no longer here. He passed away many years ago. But whenever I see my reflection, I glimpse him looking back at me because as I get older, I am becoming more and more like him. I can’t help it, I have inherited his genes.
Sometimes these similarities are caused by association. My wife and I saw a television special where they were explaining why couples begin to look more and more alike over time. This show noted that partners often mimic each other and pull the same loving, comical faces in moments of fun or bewilderment. The program suggested that, in this process, they are building up the same facial muscles, which results in their appearances becoming similar. The funny thing was, as we were watching this special, we realised we were looking at each other and pulling the same face in amazement at what we were hearing. Maybe there is something to this theory.
While this last illustration may be stretching things a little too far, the reality that is God has begun a work in us. Not to change our outward appearance, but to build our character to be like His. When He appears, we shall be like Him. What an amazing promise this is. Right now, we are His children, but His transformation of us is still in progress. We are new creations in Christ Jesus, but we do not always display His character. But when He returns for us, we will be like Him. Think about this for a moment. Somehow, by His grace, we will be changed so that when we step into eternity, we will be just like Him. We will take on a family likeness, so we will reflect our big brother Jesus and our heavenly Father.
There are many aspects of this family likeness that we do not understand at this stage. One area we know, however, is that in eternity we will be sinless. The power of sin and death will be broken. To say this in a shocking but memorable way is to say that, in eternity, we will be as holy as God! This sounds presumptuous and almost blasphemous, but in heaven, we will be sinless! We will not have to strive to be good or be on our best behaviour. We will simply be like Him.
Paul mentioned our future nature in Romans 8:18, where he refers to a glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 (NIV) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Some translations of this verse refer to a glory that will be revealed to us. But the NIV and others describe a glory that will be revealed in us. The Greek word translated “in” or “to” in this verse can be translated either way, but the context (v19) refers to creation waiting for the revealing of who we are in Christ and therefore supports verse 18 to be talking about glory that will be revealed in us.
What an amazing truth this is. We experience a real family likeness and will be like Jesus!
Take courage. You may be experiencing failure and frustration today, but God is working a sure and unstoppable work in you, so when Jesus appears, you will be like Him.
Further reading: 1 Cor 15:42-49; 2 Cor 3:18; 4:17; Phil 3:21
Spend a few minutes right now thanking the Father that He has adopted you into His family.
He is working in you so that you are taking on a real and genuine family likeness.
This is an extract from my free book Knowing God as Father, which is available for download at Knowing God as Father.