Christians have become ensnared in the coils of a spurious logic which proclaims that, having found Christ, we have no more need to seek Him; indeed, this is today’s Christian orthodoxy and a doctrine insisted upon by theological colleges and schools.
The theology of a grand army of fragrant saints whose hearts burned within them and whose witness thunders across the pages of history is rejected in favour of a smug theology that, in crude worldly terms amounts to, “I’m alright Jack”. Yet the Psalmist tells us a different story;
“Seek the Lord and be strengthened; seek His face continually” (Psalm 105:4).
We must take a higher view of what God has done for us in consummating His plan for the redemption of a fallen race. The overarching objective in the work of Jesus Christ in redemption is not to save us from the hell we deserve, but to restore us to the Godlikeness in which mankind was first created. Paul confirms the divine goal in his letter to the Romans;
“For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).
Those who believe in God’s faithfulness and in the Spirit breathed scriptures know that the redemption of mankind does not lie in the hands of humans; and just as well; this is one thing that man cannot bungle. The power of redemption is God’s exclusive power; the plan of salvation and the day of consummation belong to God alone. The spotless Lamb of God dying in my place is God’s way of doing things, not man’s! There is no human power or philosophy that can wrest authority from God if we place ourselves under it.
While perfect restoration to the divine image must await the day of Christ’s appearing, the work of restoration must be undertaken in this life. There is no halfway house between earth and heaven where this work may take place; now is the time of preparation. Complacency is the deadly foe of spiritual growth; acute desire must be present or else there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people; He wants to be wanted and waits to be wanted!
To be restored to the likeness in which we were created can only happen as we lift up the faith-filled gaze of the soul at the glory of God – the face of Christ Jesus Himself.
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6) and know that He becomes a rewarder to those seeking Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6)
To become like God is the supreme goal of all moral creatures.
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