“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” (Romans 8:29)
One of the most widely known
concepts in all Scripture is found in Genesis Chapter
One: “Let us make man in Our
image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis
1:26). The passage continues, “So
God created man (mankind)
in His own image, in the image
of God He created him; male and female He created them”
(Genesis l:27). It’s not only well known, but it is
also one of the most MIS-understood ideas in all of
Scripture.
The assumption by many is that God
made us like Him in some “physical” way. In other
words, it is assumed God somehow has a need to be housed
in a body like ours, complete with arms, legs and
whatever else you might include on the list. Obviously,
something is wrong with that idea because in Genesis
1:27 it is reported that both “male AND female” people
were created in His image, and you may have noticed that
men and women are different enough to give us a clue
that the “image of God”
is not merely physical.
In our Scripture for today, it says
that God “PRE-destined”
a group referred to as “many”
brethren to BECOME conformed to the image of His Son.
The question should be asked: How do people become
something they already are? The answer is – they
don’t! Whatever this “Image”
was, we lost it and need to get it back!
The “Image”
we need is seen in our Scripture for today – The “Image”
of God is Jesus Christ. You can also find this
expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:4, where it describes the “gospel
of the glory of Christ WHO IS the image of God.”
And if you’re not satisfied, look at Colossians 1:15,
where it says of Christ that “HE
is the image of the invisible God.”
The human race was created in the
Image of God. We lost it (we lost HIM) when we fell
from His grace. We receive that Image again when we
give ourselves to the Lord. There is no other way. As
it states in our Scripture for today, God’s intention is
for us to be “conformed to the
image of His Son.” What was lost is found – in
Him.
Earl Nightingale was a
depression-era child who became a World War II Marine
and happened to be one of the few who survived the Pearl
Harbor attack on the battleship Arizona. He later had a
successful career as a daily commentator on radio and
was able to comfortably retire at age 35. His
retirement was short lived, for he and another man
started a publishing company that became a multi million
dollar giant in the self-help field. They begged him to
record his inspirational thoughts, which was to be
called “The Strangest Secret,”
and it became the first spoken word message to become a
gold record by selling over a million copies.
Mr. Nightingale firmly believed in
a concept he expressed often in a variety of ways, which
can be expressed by these words: “Don’t
Tell Me; Show Me!” After he gave a speech in
Cleveland, Ohio, a group of people came backstage to ask
him questions. A man asked, “How
can I get my son to live the way he should?” His
answer: “By BECOMING the
person yourself, that you would have your son become.”
He continued, “All
communication by a person can be called his teaching and
he reveals himself completely by his speech, bearing,
his expression, his dress and his conduct. A wise man
once said, “What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear
what you are saying.’ What possible good can come of a
parent telling his child of truth and honesty if his
life is a lie?... The
only time we have is right now. The past is gone and
can never be recalled or changed. Remember, every
person is a teacher and what he teaches is what he is.”
Jesus Christ is our Savior who died
for the sins of the world, and everything He said and
did shows us how to live, what to do and what our lives
mean. He clearly showed us the Father (John 14:9). We
can look to Jesus and understand – everything. What is
God like? Look at Jesus, openly receive Him and you
will KNOW – the Father.
Last week, we attended the
dedication of the In-Memory Memorial Plaque near the
Vietnam Wall, in Washington, DC. Previously we had been
to the unveiling of that plaque, but now it was being
dedicated. While in DC, we were privileged to visit the
Pentagon. It was a very interesting tour for just four
people: My wife, Genevieve, Diane, the co-Directors of
the Agent Orange Widows Awareness Coalition, Diane’s
son, Dan, and me. We learned from the tour director
that previously you could go to the Pentagon at 9:00 AM,
wait in line, and attend a tour at 11:00 AM. Everybody
could go. But not since 9/11! We were allowed into
that huge building only because we had a reservation.
Since the events of September 11,
2001, you must be INVITED in order to be included on a
tour. The reservation to attend must be made well in
advance and there is a background check on every
attendee. They look into the computer, into our lives,
and if we don’t fit certain guidelines, we can’t be
there!
I have good news about you from our
Scripture for today: You’ve been INVITED into the
kingdom of God: “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” (Romans 8:29).
He has done a background check on
all of us, and (oops) we all failed the test. That’s
Romans 3:23: “ALL have sinned
and come short of the glory of God.” But in the
background check on humanity, there is One who passed
the test, the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him and when
God the Father looks at you He sees His Son. You are to
be “conformed to the image of
His Son” and when He is in your heart and life,
you are INVITED to a tour of His “kingdom” that will
last – forever!
Earl Nightingale had it right when
he said we must “BE” something in order to “teach” that
something. To be “conformed to
the image of His Son,” is to say “yes” to God’s
Gift and then allow yourself to embark on a lifetime of
being conformed to that Image, for God’s purposes, for
the benefit of those who are in your life – and so you
will have joy.
Father, I know that I fall short of
the glory of God. I trust in Your Son and thank You
that You accept me when I do. I praise Your Holy Name.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
