Already But Not Yet
Who are you imaging...
Adam at 130 years fathered Seth, “in his likeness, according to his image”. I never noticed that part before, but it sure stuck out to me while preparing this Faith Lift! Adam was created in the likeness of God, which we know. In the same way Adam’s son was created in his likeness. It is hard to believe we humans are actually created in the image of God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth… but we are. Begs the question, in what way are we created as His image bearers?
One huge way we image God is, through the miracle of conception, we create little humans in our likeness. We are also spirit beings that live forever, we have freewill, authority over unclean spirits! We have dominion, we rule and rein over the earth, and one day we will even judge the angels! We work, plan, design and build! We enjoy family, communion, and fellowship, just like Him. God is good, merciful, patient, full of light and loving kindness... as we should be! Oh, and He likes pretty things! Just read the descriptions of the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven… streets of pure gold, gates of pearls. God likes the best of the best!
I don’t know about you, but I look around the world and people do not seem to be bearing much of His image these days. Mankind as a whole is made in His image, so why do we so often look like the opposite? Did we lose it?
After the fall of Adam, our image was tainted by sin, but we are still His image bearers. There is a concept of ‘already but not yet’ in the Christian world that I think helps us understand this. God is not bound by our realm or by our time, He created it, and He controls it! He can back it up or speed it up whenever He chooses! He sees the fullness of time. He sees us in our perfected, glorified bodies that Jesus bought back for us on the cross.
Those in Christ will fully bear the likeness and image of our heavenly Father in the sweet by and by. For now, because of the fall, we are not imaging God in full. You know the old saying history repeats itself, well in a way it does. We are all trying to get back to Eden, so to speak, and we will! Ever notice that the tree of life was mentioned in the beginning of the Bible as being in the garden of Eden, and it is also mentioned in the end of the Bible as being in the new Jerusalem…
Remember, we are three-part beings. After we receive Christ, our spirits are made alive, perfected, and Holy Spirit comes to live in us. However, we still have our soul man that is in the process of being sanctified. We are all a work in progress and will be until the day we die. So, the next time someone challenges or tests your image bearing… remember who you are and act accordingly!
Sometimes it seems the closer we are to breakthrough, or about to be taken next level, from glory to glory, all hell seems to break lose. Or perhaps God is testing us before promotion. Maybe it’s both, God works in mysterious ways. If Holy Spirit has revealed some ‘ugly’ in you, praise God for it! Now you can work on that with the Lord. Ask Him to help you, ask Him to burn that dross out... and then brace yourself and hold on!
Trust me, I know how hard it is sometimes to bless your enemy, to love anyway and to shut your mouth! You have to fight for it. You have to fight to have the heart and mind of Christ, to operate from your spirit and not your soul. We want payback, we want revenge, we don’t want to turn the other cheek. I heard this the other day, and it is so true… forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice! Choose wisely!
To be His image bearers that is exactly what we must do. Choose to forgive and extend the love of Christ anyway, no matter what! Not only that, when we have allowed those negative, dark emotions to linger too long, it just feels yucky in your heart! Can I get an amen? Pay attention to that yuck, it is a big red flag you are going off course.
If you have messed up this week… or lately, acknowledge it. It is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance. He wants to forgive you and bring peace back to your heart. It’s what He sent His Son for. Our God is merciful, kind and tender hearted. Run to Him, He is waiting with open arms.
Don’t neglect time with Him or His Word. It is your daily bread. It helps us and changes us. Get alone with God and allow Him to minister to you. Praise Him and lift His name on high! He is your source. Let Him turn that thing around. Give it to Him and thank Him that His mercies are new every morning.
Thank you, Lord! Oh, thank you Father! You alone deserve the praise. Be glorified. Be high and lifted up! We run to you now Lord. We praise you in the storm Lord. We hand these burdens to you, and we thank you for working it all out for our good and your glory. Thy will be done. Help us to reflect you, to image you in all we think, say and do, in Jesus name. Amen and Amen.
