And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.—Romans 8:28-30
Think on the beauty of what God is saying to us here in His word. That we might be conformed to the image of His Son. That is the goal. That is the ideal. As believers that is what each of us want. Think on Jesus. Think on all His wonderful attributes…His lovingkindness, His goodness, His holiness and hatred of sin, His strength, and His sweetness. Think on how much He loves us. Think on His life of utter submission to His Father and His self-sacrificing love. Read Ephesians Chapter one. We as believers have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. I don’t know about you but I want to appropriate every one of those blessings. I want Jesus in every part of my heart and my life. When people see me, I want them to see not me, but my Savior. The apostle Paul expresses this desire for conformity to Christ so well in the following verses:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:12-14
Paul wanted to know the fullness of all the Lord had laid hold of for Him. His will was surrendered. The desires of his heart were God’s desires. He fought the good fight. He walked by faith and not by sight. He wholly desired to be conformed to the image of His beautiful Savior and Lord. He continually reached for the heavenly prize of Christlikeness.
Philippians 3:15-16 continues this way…
All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us stay true to what we have already attained.
Because this was Paul’s heart, at the end of his life he could say this:
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Beloved…Be like Paul. By the Spirit of God who dwells in you…fight the good fight. Be poured out for your Lord. Keep the faith. Finish well. Behold Him who always beholds you and be transformed moment by moment into the precious image of His Son.
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 by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.—Philippians 2:12-13
