Carbon Copy

We must keep in mind the Objective of Salvation. The Objective of Salvation is to be conformed to the Image of Christ (Romans 8). God didn't save us just to go to Heaven when we die. Jesus didn't shed His Blood just so we could go to church on Sunday mornings. The Holy Spirit doesn't dwell within us just for the purpose of the operation of the spiritual gifts. No. God has put His Redemptive Plan in place so that what He originally designed humanity to be in the Beginning (Genesis 1), can come to fruition in and through His Only Begotten Son. If we lose track of the Divine Intention for which God created and regenerated us in the first place, at some point, no matter how committed we are to ministry, we're going to get off track. God is looking for a Carbon Copy.

I haven't met a parent yet, that doesn't derive some degree of joy over the fact that their children look like them. As a matter of fact, it becomes a point of concern when the child "doesn't" look like either their father of mother (from a biological standpoint). Why is this significant? Because when your child has your nose, has your eyes, has your ears, has your height; it's a strong indication that the child belongs to you. Also, it testifies to the fact that the child is not just a reflection of you, but they're also an Extension of you. You are in them. The physical characteristics for which the both of you share proves that your DNA, your blood, runs through the veins of that child, your child. There's something special about that dynamic that warms the heart of every parent, no matter how negligent or irresponsible they may be as a mother or father.

This type of "parental pride" (for lack of a better word) is of God. God is the Eternal and Universal Parent. EVERYTHING (not just human beings) is birthed from Him. But He put a special stamp on His human creation, because according to the biblical record, we are the only aspect of His Creation that He specifically designed to Look Like Him (Genesis 1). I believe that there is an aspect of our physical dimension that is created in the Image and Likeness of God; but let us not forget, God is a Spirit (John 4). So, God is looking for us to look like Him in our hearts, in our minds and in our spirits. And I can assure you, when we begin to develop attributes that reflect the DNA of the Father, He derives the same type of Pleasure that we do as earthly parents.

Jesus is the Express Image of the Father (Hebrews 1). Therefore, if you want to know what God looks like as a human being, all you have to do is look at Jesus (John 10). But what we often miss, is that this wasn't God's intention for just Jesus, this is His Intention for all of humanity. Every soul that God has birthed into the earth was designed to reflect His Image and Likeness. Of course we know that not all human beings aspire to this. But Christians should! And my concern is that we have too many born-again believers that are not trying hard enough to look like their Daddy (Romans 8). We're still not allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate love, meekness, humility, lowliness, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, sacrifice, long-suffering...the attributes that make up the DNA of our Heavenly Father.

It's time, Saints, for us to re-commit ourselves, not just to God, but to allowing the Holy Spirit to re-create in us the very Image of God! This is what the Father wants. So that when He looks down from Glory, He'll witness a church that is a Carbon Copy of His Son.