All human kind, our One Human Race, was made in the image of God (and is still being made that way – by God). But then the Fall of Man happened… we sinned, and, well, a lot of what is inside us got corrupted. Poor puny humans. (See: CompellingTruth.org article)
In Heaven we will actively be holy in all things
Thank God, if we have been born again, we will be totally changed by God for Heaven – when we die. For Heaven – we will actually be made to actively be holy in all things. That’s a given. But what about now?
As long as we have life in mortal bodies, we will struggle with good and evil. The Apostle Paul encourages us to not conform to the world’s ways. Don’t let it conform you. That is part of “the good fight“. We are to be “progressively changed”, constantly – into more of God and less of us, less fleshly and more godly. Paul says,
“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” – Romans 12:2
In the now and now,
I want to be more and more — like what Jesus wants to see in me when He returns. Little by little I am becoming more and more like Jesus wants. I am growing into “my natural new life” in Christ. I am working at it, as Paul said to all of us, “…continue to work out your salvation….”
“So then, my dear ones,
just as you have always obeyed
[my instructions with enthusiasm],
not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence,
continue to work out your salvation
[that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect,
actively pursue spiritual maturity]
with awe-inspired fear and trembling
[using serious caution
and critical self-evaluation
to avoid anything that might offend God
or discredit the name of Christ].”
– Philippians 2:12
“walk in a manner worthy
of the God
who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.”
– 1 Thessalonians 2:12
I am seriously cultivating my new life in Christ – now – so that I am welcomed by Jesus with His approval. I want to hear Him say to me: “Well done…” (Matthew 25:21-23; Luke 19:17).
We know we will be transformed in Heaven.
“We will all be
[completely] changed
[wondrously transformed”
– 1 Corinthians 15:50-52. 1
I want to be full of Heaven’s ways before I get there! Here are a few of those heavenly qualities that we can definitely be working on inside ourselves — in the meantime, as we await His Return. You think? Are you seeing these more and more in yourself?
What Jesus wants to see in me when He returns
(first eleven in this list are the fruit of the Spirit – from Galatians 5:22-23)
acting and interacting unselfishly, “with unselfish concern for others”,
joyful,
exhibiting [inner] peace,
patient with others
“[not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]”,
acting with kindness,
having goodness in my soul – and acting it out with others,
having faithfulness,
characterized by “gentleness”,
self-controlled in stressful events
self-driven,
thoughtful,
And the list goes on and on.
Edited from: – Source: We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches.” – John 15:verse 5
The fruit – what we put out on our branches (in cooperation with His Spirit in us) is proof of His Spirit abiding and working inside us (or not).
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit
[the result of His presence within us]
is love
[unselfish concern for others],
joy,
[inner] peace,
patience
[not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting],
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Some sweet day He will resurrect our bodies and we will then start life all over again — in God’s Home, Heaven. I’m sooo… looking forward to that day. How ’bout you? See: First Day in Heaven
Transformers
Do you need to consider “re-starting life” – in the here and now? When He comes for us – we all will certainly wish we had done more transforming (Romans 12:2).
– Source: Re-starting life
Turning to God is like re-starting. It’s like punching “Reset”. Immediately what’s “current” disappears, and I start over brand new, with no pending doom.
Turning to God is accepting His way and no other – sincerely accepting that He is God and I am not, realizing I am but a mere mud-man, a puny human, a clay jar on the potting wheel, created by The Almighty Potter, God of all there is or ever will be.
FOR MORE:
Jesus will return soon – just as He left
How then should we live now – believing the Rapture is just around the corner?
Read the series on Every believer’s new life in Christ, from Ephesians 1. We are made new creatures, given new life in Christ – when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
- Growing into our natural new life in Christ
- Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One]
- Explaining the Basic Christian Experience [Part Two]
Growing into our natural new life in Christ:
Being faithful little by little
Heaven. What’s it going to be like?
At death – we put on immortality
About Death and Dying …a series about death and dying
Turning to God is like re-starting. It’s like punching “Reset”. Immediately what’s “current” disappears, and I start over brand new, with no pending doom.
We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
Footnotes
-
1 Corinthians 15:50-52
The Mystery of Resurrection50 Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
nor be part of the kingdom of God;
nor does the perishable (mortal)
inherit the imperishable (immortal).51 Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery
[a secret truth decreed by God
and previously hidden, but now revealed];we will not all sleep [in death],
but we will all be [completely] changed
[wondrously transformed],
52 in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye,
at [the sound of] the last trumpet call.
For a trumpet will sound,
and the dead [who believed in Christ]
will be raised imperishable,
and we will be
[completely] changed
[wondrously transformed].
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