Slowly but surely, we begin to resemble those closest to us.
I see it in my children the most. (Even the adopted ones.) Not only do they look like their dad, but they sound like him, move like him, have his sense of humor, his values, facial expressions… all the way down to the twinkle in his eye. There is no doubt that they adored him. One of the highest compliments you could pay our kids is to say, “I see your dad in you.”
Every time pain and heartbreak drive us to our knees, we are changed more into Christ’s likeness. Each time we dig into the Word, searching for answers and life-giving truth, it whittles away all the parts of us that don’t look like the Son. The more time we spend with Him, the more we become like Him.
In this way, the trial becomes a gift. Not just for us, but also for those around us.
When I “see” Jeremy in the faces of my children, I get sweet glimpses of him. When I hear his words come out of their mouths, I hear precious reminders of him. When friends speak fondly of him, I long to hear more. He lives on through them.
Similarly, when our faces glow with God’s peace in the midst of our storm, the world sees glimpses of Him. When we act like Jesus, live like Jesus and love like Jesus, it reminds them of His goodness and grace. And when we speak fondly of Him, others will want to know more about Him. He lives through us.
I deeply desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around me. But I often focus so much on “doing” that I forget that the transformation happens in the being. The sitting still in His presence is where we learn of Him. The laying it all at His feet is where we conform to His image. The suffering teaches us submission and the waiting reveals what we worship. Often, it is in being set aside that we are set apart.
You may not have ever met Jeremy, but I hope you have grown to admire him because of the way I represent him.
The world around us may not yet know our Savior, but we have the privilege of introducing Him. Do we represent Him well? They should see Him in His children the most, as the beloved, blood-bought, adopted sons and daughters of God begin to take on His likeness. Not only will we look like Jesus, but we will sound like Him, think like Him, and love like Him. There will be no doubt that we adore Him.
The greatest treasure from this tragedy will come when we have become so much like our Father that others look at us and see His face. I can think of no better compliment than to hear someone say, “I see Jesus in you.”
I don’t know about you, but I really hope I get the twinkle in His eye.
1/18/3023