“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2
Have you ever been driving and suddenly you realize you are at a certain place on the road, but you don’t remember passing the old familiar landmarks along the way? How about the people you saw in church this past week. If you were asked what a person you spoke with had been wearing, could you describe the outfit? Sometimes we miss the details of things we’re looking at because we are not really seeing in depth.
What do you “see” when you “look” at the Lord Jesus Christ?
When I look at Jesus, I see the Son of God, the Saviour of the world who died for me. However, when I take the time to really look, what do I really see in Him? Do I see Jesus willingly sacrificing Himself so that I could have forgiveness of sins? Do I see the betrayal? The beatings? The mockery of a trial? The unbelievable cries to release a rebellious murderer instead of the innocent Son of God? Do I see the hammer striking the nails that penetrated His hands and feet? Do I see Him dying for me? Do I see His victory over death and sin at the resurrection? Do I see the One who is currently preparing a place for me in heaven to live with Him forever? Inow need to see Jesus as my Creator and our Redeemer!
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
What do you “see” when you “look” at your walk with the Lord?
If I “look” at my relationship with Christ, I can easily say I am doing God’s will. I pray; I read the Bible; I go to church. However, when I look deeply, I can see the details of my relationship. How often do I pray? When I read the Bible, is it to mark it off my checklist or am I reading for depth and understanding? When do I attend church? Every time the doors are open or just on Sunday mornings? Am I serving God in any capacity? If I have the ability to teach, am I working in Sunday school or AWANA? What do I really see if I search for the details of my relationship? I need to be a living sacrifice to God, serving Him with my life.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
What do you “see” when you “look” for the return of Christ?
When I think of the return of Christ, do I look forward to a time when Jesus will return for His church? Do I “see” the signs of the rapture around me? Do I see myself urgently sharing Christ with those who are not yet saved so they won’t be left behind when He comes? Do I “see” the prophetic events in Scripture that have already been fulfilled now pointing to this next event happening in the very near future, or do I merely “look” at the prophesies in Scripture as happening who-knows-when? I need to be diligently looking for the imminent coming of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
It’s time for me to take a good, long look at Jesus, my service to Him, and my future with Him. I know one day I “shall see Him as He is“, but until then I want to see my faith grow and my walk with Jesus become closer.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13
Life is offered unto you, hallelujah!
Eternal life thy soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, hallelujah!
Look to Jesus who alone can save.
“Look and live,” my brother, live,
Look to Jesus now, and live;
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”
(from “Look and Live” by William Ogden)
“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17
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Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see more closely than ever before!