CHANGED INTO HIS IMAGE

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NASU.

There are some who believe, and confess that they are now walking in spiritual completeness and perfection. There are Scriptures to support this belief, however, what is complete and finished in God’s purposes, is not necessarily evident in our lives, in the “now” sense. The truth is, just as a baby from the moment of conception is potentially an adult, it does not make it into an instant adult, even though its DNA is designed to bring it to the state of maturity, which is how our Father sees us IN Christ.

One can pick a juicy ripe Apple from a tree, and marvel at its goodness. It all started in the spring as a flower that was pollinated by a bee. In time the petals fell off and the apple began to grow. Along the way the apple was dependent upon the tree receiving nourishment from the tree, and the tree from the soil. The sun, the wind, the rain and its preprogrammed DNA growth program were all part of the growth cycle. I have used this illustration many times when discussing the “fruit” of the Spirit. Many new Christians may have a lot of joy, with exuberance, and love, yet in time this tends to pass, just as the petals fall off of the pollinated flower. However, as the Spirit works in one’s life, one should come into a state of maturity in every area.

The word “transformed” in 2 Corinthians 3:18, comes from the Greek word “metamorphoo,” which implies a progression of change. Most of us will know that the word metamorphosis describes the process in changing a caterpillar into a butterfly. It was about 1986 when my friend Alan Mc Savage described this transforming change in this manner. You are looking in the mirror and see yourself yet the unchanged. Then day by day as the Lord works in your life, you notice a change taking place and in time when you look, you no longer see yourself, you just see the Lord in you as you are being changed from glory to glory.

The question arises as to how this change takes place. Any form of change is subject to the environment surrounding it. We like to think that blessings and all the good things we desire are what we really need. Is, “Name it and claim it,” really proof of being blessed? This is hardly so. How does an athlete develop strength and endurance? It is by hard work, which may even be painful, and countless hours of practice, and training under a coach. Years ago there was a chorus called, “He is All I Need.” At a camp meeting in Western Canada I remember a couple of brothers who came up from Washington State with this version - “He is All I WANT.” Did you get it? More than what we need, but he becomes our hearts’ desire.

My friend of many years, Jerry Cornell, has often said, “The judgements of God are remedial.” In other words designed to produce positive change in our lives. “But wait, wait,” some may say, doesn’t judgment mean that we can we call down fire on our enemies, criminals etc. This desire for revenge in the name of justice comes from Old Testament legalism. It seems that true justice is rarely wanted, but the desire, as some say, “Let him/her rot in hell is often heard.” True justice is an impartial judgement concerning the facts of a criminal case either way. However, it seems that the accused are often deemed “guilty” until proven “innocent,” as the system appears to be bias toward conviction at any cost, rather than true justice. Today DNA evidence is setting many wrongly convicted persons free. How about the wrongly executed? Thank God that we have been judged righteously. While we are guilty, our Father sees us IN Christ, and pronounces us innocent, because Jesus dealt with our sin, and guilt which we need bear no longer.

In Leviticus 24:17 we read about “an eye for and eye,” (the only Bible verse some seem to know), however, Jesus gave an interpretation of this that few may have read, and fewer want to practice. Consider Matthew 5:38-45 where Jesus quotes Leviticus and then says, "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” [NASU]. Where is there room for revenge in that kind of attitude?

This remedial working of Gods judgements happens to us in many ways, as our loving Father is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:3 there is a word used that is usually translated “tribulation”, it really means pressure. It is from the Greek - thlipsis (Strong’s #2347) and means PRESSURE. This word, thlipsis, is translated as, tribulation, affliction, trouble, anguish, or distress. When reading Verses 3-5 we find that this thlipsis is designed to bring positive change in our lives. Back in 1953 while in Los Angeles my father sent me the following poem.

PRESSED
Pressed out of measure, and pressed to all length,
Pressed so intently, it seems beyond strength,
Pressed in the body, and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind, till the dark surges roll,
Pressure by foe, and pressure by friends,
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
Pressed into knowing no helper but God,
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod,
Pressed into liberty, where nothing clings,
Pressed into faith, for impossible things,
Pressed into living, a LIFE IN THE LORD,
Pressed into living, a CHRIST LIFE outpoured.

This work of conforming us to the image of Christ, of the judgements of God doing their remedial work, that is producing positive change in us, happens to us in many ways. At times it may feel like fire of the Lord is burning within and without. An old song from my childhood Pentecostal days comes to memory. The chorus went, “Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire, to burn our every trace of sin - -.” To me it seemed to mean that it was to keep us from the long list of sins we Pentecostals had. More importantly the fire was to bring us great joy as “the glory came down.” When the “glory came down,” we all felt good and full of rejoicing.

Dead seriously, there is a fiery trial, a purging that happens to metal when the heat is put to it as all of the dross is burned away. This is all within our Fathers plan for his glory, oh yes, and our best. In 1 Peter 4:12 we read, “My Dear Friends, do not be bewildered by the fiery ordeal that is upon you, as though it were something extraordinary.” NEB.

My friend David EL Johnson often speaks about the KATHAROS river of Revelation 22:1. His basis of using this Greek word is based upon the river found in Daniel 7:9-10.

"I kept looking, Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.
"A RIVER OF FIRE was flowing, And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.” NASU.

The “Ancient of Days” was seated to give judgement. It should be remembered that our “God is a consuming fire” and he is not mean, cruel and vindictive, but one who, in love is producing change in our lives. The fire is for our good as we are being changed from glory to glory. Hallelujah! We worship you O our Lord for the correctness of your ways and your righteous acts.

Now as we see the Katharos River in Revelation 22:1 we notice that it is described as other than in a fiery form. “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” [NASU] The Greek word for clear - lampros Strong’s #2986 - has the meaning of white, bright, gorgeous. The phrase “fine linen” is found in Revelation 19:8. “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” [NASU]. This linen is “bright” or “white” (lampros) and is clean - Greek katharos (Strong’s #2513) - means free from impurity. It has been through the process as it has been cleansed (katharizo Strong’s #2511), purged and purified.

Have you been through the fire, or are you in the fire? Then as hard as it may be for you to do, rejoice. Not phoney praises, but with an inward thankfulness that it will come to an end and you will be “changed into the image of Christ.” Our Father is polishing his sons and daughters, and while the pressure may be great and the heat very hot, the end result will bring forth praise and glory to him.

Concerning judgement at the temple, or house of God, 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 says this, “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the FIRE itself will TEST the quality of each man's work. [NASU] That which is produced by fleshly, soulish, or even well meant religious effort is to be dealt with to its ultimate end.

As we have discussed being changed into the image of Christ, I was reminded of, and found, the following poem that I came across during my years of fellowship with the brethren from North Battleford Saskatchewan.

TRANSFORMED
The change is coming O Blessed hope,
When sons of God shall arise from flesh,
When in cocoon a change is wrought,
And from chrysalis there shall arise, a creature new,
An earth bound creature went inside,
The robe of flesh encased him there,
And now from robes of flesh comes forth,
A creature that can soar and not be held to earth,
No more to crawl upon the dust,
No more of earth to bind,
And now to rise and walk the stars,
The heavenly realm as home.
F. T. Paterson - Edmonton Alberta Canada

The processing we go through results in a PURE river, not one with carnal, soulish mixture, but bright and white. This is our ultimate place as sons of God. Revelation 22:2-5 continues this way. “On either side of the river was the TREE of LIFE, bearing twelve kinds of FRUIT, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the HEALING OF THE NATIONS. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. NASU.   Let us rejoice and be glad. Our God Reigns! Halleluiah!