1 John 3:2, “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.”
Can you imagine never being sick or aging again? What about being continually filled by the Holy Spirit as you walk the streets in Heaven? That is our destiny. Our full potential will not be fulfilled until we leave this earth. “If I may use such an expression, this is not the time for the manifestation of a Christian’s glory. Eternity is to be the period for the Christian’s full development, and for the sinless display of his God-given glory. Here, he must expect to be unknown; it is in the hereafter that he is to be discovered as a son of the great King.” (Spurgeon). As a child of God, I am the daughter of God, the great King, who will, in Heaven, be given to display my God-given glory without any weaknesses and sins. More and more, I long for that day!
How is God transforming you this week to be more like Jesus? Have you encountered some unpleasant circumstances? As it says in Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” It is a lifelong process. I believe we will still have our character and personality in heaven, but we will be perfected into Christ’s image of perfection. Can you imagine there will no longer be anything to criticize you for, be mistakenly blamed for, or any health issues in heaven? And that is only the beginning because there will be so much more!
Seeing Jesus is the greatest expectant happening in our life. There is so much corruption in our world today going on. Every day, there are new headlines about another crime committed and many other atrocities where good is evil and evil is promoted as good. But we have God’s promise in Revelation 22:12-13, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Is it time yet? Hold onto Matthew 24:44’s promise from God, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
As Paul emphasized this same message to Titus in Titus 2:12-13, this is how we are to live, in preparation of Christ’s return as we watch and wait and wonder, “is it time yet?”, “Training us to renounce ungodliness, and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age [2023], waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Jesus Christ.” So put up your shield of faith – your offensive weapon – as you recite or read God’s Word of truth filling up your soul, human spirit, and mind, as you also wonder, “is it time yet?” Build up His kingdom.
Listen to I Speak Jesus – Charity Gayle, Lyric Video, 2 months ago.