We Shall Be Like Him

Scripture: 1 John 3:2 (KJV)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God...but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Personal Reflection

Every genuine Christian longs to be free from sin.

We grow weary of pride, selfishness, wandering thoughts, wrong desires, unbelief, and the constant conflict between flesh and Spirit.

We sometimes wonder, “Will I ever finally be completely like Christ?”

John answers with glorious certainty:

“We shall be like him.”

Sanctification begins in this life, but it will not be completed until Christ appears. Then the remaining corruption that has troubled us throughout our pilgrimage will be gone forever.

No more temptation.

No more sinful desires.

No more wandering heart.

No more grieving the Holy Spirit.

No more confessing the same weaknesses.

We shall see Christ as He is, and we shall be like Him.

This promise should produce more than anticipation. John immediately tells us what it should produce now:

“Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Future glorification motivates present sanctification.

If we expect one day to be perfectly like Christ, we should desire increasingly to resemble Him today.

The genuine hope of Christ's appearing never encourages carelessness about sin. It produces the opposite.

We pursue purity because we are going to see the Pure One.

We pursue holiness because we will dwell eternally with the Holy One.

We pursue Christlikeness because Christlikeness is our destiny.

One day the struggle will end.

Until then, keep pursuing the One you will soon behold.

Contemplation

Does my hope of seeing Christ create a stronger desire to become like Him now?

Puritan Quote

John Owen wrote:

“Beholding the glory of Christ...is the great privilege and advancement of believers.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, make me increasingly like You now as I await the day when I shall see You as You are. Purify my heart and deepen my hatred of sin. Amen.

Application

Choose one characteristic of Christ—humility, compassion, patience, purity, forgiveness—and intentionally practice it today.

 

Rejoicing in the Fiery Trial

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12–13 (KJV)

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you... But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Personal Reflection

Peter tells Christians something completely contrary to the spirit of our age: Do not be surprised when following Christ brings suffering.

We often assume that difficulty means something has gone wrong. Peter says fiery trials should not be considered strange.

Christ suffered.

Those who follow Him should not expect always to be applauded by a world that rejected their Master.

But suffering is not the end of the story.

Peter directs our attention forward: “when his glory shall be revealed.”

There is coming a day when the Christ who was mocked, rejected, crucified, and dismissed by this world will be revealed in glory.

On that day, today's suffering will look very different.

This perspective transforms how Christians endure trials.

We do not rejoice because pain is pleasant. We rejoice because suffering cannot separate us from Christ, and present suffering is temporary when measured against coming glory.

The world says, “Avoid suffering at any cost.”

Christ says, “Follow Me.”

Sometimes faithfulness will cost reputation, relationships, opportunities, comfort, or even physical safety.

But no sacrifice made for Christ will ultimately be lost.

Peter reminds faithful shepherds that when the Chief Shepherd appears, they will receive “a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

Earthly applause fades.

Human recognition disappears.

But Christ's reward does not fade.

Therefore, do not measure faithfulness by how people respond to you today.

Live for the approval of the Chief Shepherd who shall appear.

Contemplation

Am I willing to remain faithful to Christ when obedience brings suffering rather than applause?

Puritan Quote

Samuel Rutherford wrote:

“Christ's cross is such a burden as sails are to a ship.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, strengthen me when faithfulness is costly. Keep my eyes upon Your coming glory and make me willing to suffer rather than compromise Your truth. Amen.

Application

Identify one area where fear of people's opinions tempts you to compromise. Choose faithfulness to Christ instead.

 

Stablish Your Heart

Scripture: James 5:8 (KJV)

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

Personal Reflection

Waiting is difficult.

We want God to act now. We want prayers answered, injustice corrected, suffering ended, and promises fulfilled according to our timetable.

James points suffering believers toward the return of Christ and commands: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts.”

To stablish the heart means to make it firm, settled, and steadfast.

Christian patience is not passive resignation. It is confident endurance because we know how the story ends.

Christ is coming.

Therefore, suffering does not have the final word.

Injustice does not have the final word.

Persecution does not have the final word.

Even death does not have the final word.

Jesus does.

James also connects Christ's coming with our relationships. He warns believers against holding grudges because “the judge standeth before the door.”

That is searching.

How foolish to await the righteous Judge while harboring bitterness against another believer.

The expectation of Christ's return should make us patient not only with circumstances but also with people.

If Christ were visibly standing at the door, what resentment would suddenly seem insignificant? What argument would lose its importance? Whom would you forgive?

We do not know the day of His appearing. But every passing day brings us closer.

So establish your heart.

Do not abandon obedience because the road is difficult. Do not allow suffering to make you bitter. Do not permit waiting to weaken your faith.

The Lord is coming.

Wait faithfully.

Contemplation

Has prolonged waiting produced greater steadfastness in me—or greater bitterness?

Puritan Quote

Thomas Watson wrote:

“Patience is a grace that keeps the soul quiet under affliction.”

Prayer

Lord, establish my heart. Give me patience in suffering, grace toward others, and confidence in Your promises as I await Christ's return. Amen.

Application

Release one grudge today. Forgive in light of the truth that “the judge standeth before the door.”

 

Looking for That Blessed Hope

Scripture: Titus 2:13 (KJV)

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Personal Reflection

The Christian possesses a hope that no storm can destroy.

Paul calls the return of Jesus Christ “that blessed hope.” Biblical hope is not uncertain wishing. It is confident expectation grounded in the promises of a God who cannot lie.

Notice what surrounds this hope. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live “soberly, righteously, and godly” in this present world.

Then Paul says we are to be looking for Christ.

Grace therefore teaches us to look in two directions: away from sin and toward our returning Savior.

The person truly looking for Christ cannot comfortably embrace the world Christ will judge. Expectation of His appearing should loosen our attachment to possessions, recognition, comfort, and earthly ambition.

This does not mean withdrawing from our responsibilities. We work, serve, raise families, minister, and fulfill our callings faithfully. But we do all of these things knowing that this present world is not our final home.

Every earthly blessing is temporary.

Every earthly trial is temporary.

Every disappointment is temporary.

Christ is coming.

The Christian's greatest hope is not that circumstances will improve, governments will become righteous, finances will prosper, or suffering will disappear.

Our hope has a name.

Jesus Christ.

One day faith will become sight. The Savior we have worshiped without seeing will appear in glory.

Until then, grace teaches us to live holy lives with our eyes lifted toward heaven.

Contemplation

Is my deepest hope fixed upon improved circumstances, or upon the appearing of Jesus Christ?

Puritan Quote

Richard Baxter wrote:

“Set your heart on heaven, and the world will seem little.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, keep my heart looking for You. Teach me to deny worldly lusts, live godly in this present world, and treasure Your appearing above every earthly hope. Amen.

Application

When anxiety arises today, deliberately remind yourself: “This is temporary. Christ is coming.”

 

Love His Appearing

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (KJV)

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness...and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Personal Reflection

Paul wrote these words while facing death.

He was not writing from a comfortable home while enjoying an easy retirement. His earthly course was nearly finished. Yet there is no despair in his words.

There is triumph.

“I have fought a good fight.”

“I have finished my course.”

“I have kept the faith.”

Paul's confidence was not that Rome would spare his life. His eyes were fixed upon Christ and the crown awaiting him.

Then he says something remarkable: that crown is not reserved for apostles, missionaries, martyrs, or famous preachers.

It belongs to “all them also that love his appearing.”

Do you love His appearing?

That question reaches deeper than whether we intellectually believe in the Second Coming.

Someone deeply attached to this world may believe Christ is coming while secretly wishing He would delay.

But the heart increasingly captivated by Christ begins to say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Loving His appearing changes our priorities. We hold possessions more loosely. We endure trials more patiently. We take holiness more seriously. We become concerned for lost souls. We measure success by faithfulness rather than earthly recognition.

And as death approaches, this hope becomes increasingly precious.

The Christian does not ultimately look toward the grave.

He looks beyond it.

We are not merely approaching the end of earthly life. We are approaching Christ.

May we therefore live so that when our course is finished, we can look toward eternity not with terror but with expectation.

The King whom we have loved by faith will finally appear.

Contemplation

Do I merely believe that Christ will appear, or do I genuinely love His appearing?

Puritan Quote

Richard Sibbes wrote:

“There is not a more glorious object in the world than a Christian carrying himself as becomes his hopes.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, make Your appearing precious to me. Loosen my heart from this world, keep me faithful in the fight, and help me finish my course longing to see You. Amen.

Application

Ask yourself today: “What am I holding so tightly that it makes me less eager to see Christ?” Surrender it to Him.

 

Comfort One Another with These Words

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 (KJV)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God... Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Personal Reflection

Few passages contain greater comfort for grieving Christians.

Paul does not tell us merely that something will happen at the end of history. He tells us:

“The Lord himself shall descend from heaven.”

Jesus Christ personally returns.

Death has separated us temporarily from believers we love. We have stood beside graves and felt the painful finality of earthly goodbyes. Yet for those who die in Christ, the grave does not have the final word.

The dead in Christ shall rise.

Those believers living at Christ's return will be gathered together with them.

And then comes the greatest promise of all:

“So shall we ever be with the Lord.”

That is the heart of Christian hope.

Our greatest joy is not merely receiving a glorified body, escaping suffering, or being reunited with Christian loved ones—wonderful as these blessings are.

Our greatest joy is Christ Himself.

We will be with the Lord.

Forever.

Therefore Paul says, “Comfort one another with these words.”

Christian grief is real. Scripture never commands us to pretend death does not hurt. Jesus Himself wept at Lazarus' tomb.

But Christian grief is never hopeless grief.

At the graveside of a believer, we can weep while simultaneously declaring: This is not the end.

Christ conquered death.

Christ is coming.

The dead in Christ shall rise.

The saints shall be gathered.

And separation will give way to everlasting fellowship with our Lord.

That is not sentimental optimism.

That is the promise of God.

Contemplation

When facing death and loss, do I consciously anchor my grief in the promise of Christ's return and resurrection?

Puritan Quote

Richard Baxter wrote:

“Why should I be loath to leave this body, when I am going to Christ?”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, comfort every grieving heart with the certainty of Your return. Keep our eyes beyond the grave and upon the glorious promise that we shall forever be with You. Amen.

Application

Encourage someone who has lost a Christian loved one with the promise of 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18.

Overcoming Series Part 4: Guilt and Shame

 https://pathwaytopurityandpower.podbean.com/e/no-condemnation-finding-freedom-from-guilt-and-shame/