Much to Come

1 John 3:2-3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
 
THERE is more to come. Being a child of God today means you are 1) under God’s protection from sin’s destruction 2) you are living on the pathway to heaven 3) you have access to the throne of grace 4) you have security in your eternal life 5) you can rightly call God “Father”, the Son “brother” and the Spirit “Helper” 7) Jesus has prepared a place for you in heaven.
   These are a few of God’s wonderful, life-transforming blessings on your life. He has called you into an eternal privilege that is far beyond your understanding. Yet, you know your mortal life has many challenges. That’s why it’s essential to know that what we will be has not yet been made known. God’s perfection awaits you.
   We don’t know details of our future life with Jesus. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. To be like Jesus is to be in his glorified existence. John saw this in the Transfiguration on the Mount (Mark 9). Paul also wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  
   How will we reflect the Lord’s glory? 1) Our resurrected bodies will include both body and soul (1 Corinthians 15). 2) Our resurrected body will be changed into bodies as Jesus’ glorified body: Philippians 3:21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. And 3) Our resurrected body will not be limited as they are now. We will not get sick, be weak or die. Luke 20:36 “And they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.”
   Confessing Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”  (John 20:28) you are a child of God. You are a child of the resurrection! As you live in expectation of a glorious future, John urges us to purify ourselves in the same manner as Jesus is pure. In other words, purposefully point your life to the Lord’s perfection. But we cannot purify ourselves apart from Jesus’ teachings and the Spirit’s power. John’s point is to have an attitude that directs you from the world and into Jesus’ holiness. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  
   John says this is our hope. This is an assurance you are in a process toward heaven. You do not have a hope that says, “Maybe it will happen.” But this is a hope that confirms, “When it happens.”
   Dwell in the richness of your inheritance. Rejoice in the plan God has for your mortal body to become a glorious reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ.