This is our destiny – to be transformed, changed into the very same image of the glory of the Lord.  According to this verse, as we behold His glory we will be transformed into that very same glory!

The phrase “beholding as in a mirror” is the compound Greek word  katoptrizomai.  As I did some research, I found that this compound word is so full of meaning that it would take several pages to fully uncover all that it has to say.  But in the simplest terms I could find, it carries the idea of  “gazing  with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable; to mirror oneself; to intensely, forcefully position against.”

So what II Cor. 3.18 is saying is that as we fix our gaze intently on the glory that is in His Word …., constantly positioning our lives up against that image set forth in Him, mirroring ourselves by His ways and His standard of living – we will be transformed into that very same image – the Glory of God – growing from one degree of glory to the next, by His Spirit, and brightly reflect His glory to the world around us.

These are the days of the Glory of God, and we are the people of that Glory.  It is time for us to reflect it as never before.  Isaiah 40.5 says that, “The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it.”  It is through us, the people of God – those committed to Him and His ways, that He will reveal, pour out His Glory upon the whole earth.

The New Living translation of II Cor. 3.16-18, makes it even clearer:  “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the  veil  [that was blinding their understanding] is taken away.  Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, He gives freedom.   And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.  And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.”

Our destiny is to be like Him –  to be His mirror image.  Everything God has put in His Word is there to help us grow up and become just like Jesus.  And why?  Because we are His Body!  In the same way that our physical bodies are not a separate entity from our head – but instead are joined, and all one piece, making up the whole – so also is Jesus as the Head,  and all of us who are members of His Body –  we are one with Him by the Spirit.

God gave us His Word, gave us the gifts of the Spirit, gave us the five-fold ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers –  to equip, perfect, and encourage our spiritual growth …. so that “we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” –Eph. 4.13

That is where we are headed in the glory –  to arrive at the full measure of all Jesus has and all He is in His Anointing.  “When Christ Who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory . . . .  [for you] put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” –Col.3.4,10

Did you catch that?  Our new man – our re-born self, is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him (of God) who created us.  It is in constantly renewing our minds to the knowledge that He has created us in His own image – the image of His glory – that we will really come to be just like Him.

Ephesians 5.1 urges that we be “imitators of God as dear children”.  I think it is interesting that the writer of this verse used the words “as dear children”.  The word “dear” somehow always carries the connotation of love, endearment, and of something or someone very precious and treasured.  So if we are being urged here in this verse to imitate God as dear children, it must be that our motivation in imitating Him is purely out of our love and endearment for Him, knowing that this is something very precious to God that we be like Him.

Oh, isn’t that beautiful?  Let that thought settle down on your heart for a moment.  Our Father’s desire is for us to be just like Jesus, Who is just like Him.  He gave us Jesus so that we could have eternal Life –  now we can give back to Him by giving to Him the desires of His heart – becoming more like Him.   “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in Him.”  (Colossians 2.6)  Walk in Him.  Live in Him.

 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”   - Romans 8.29-30

Before each of us were even born, He predestined, planned beforehand, for us to be conformed to the image of Jesus, so that He could be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters – who are just like Him.  Not only did He predestine us, but He also called, justified, and glorified us.  Everything He has done and is doing in us now, is to bring us into His glory – the glory of His Presence.  This is the life He has begun in us and it will come to full completion.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1.6

The center-column reference in my NKJ Bible for the phrase “good work” in this verse is John 6.29, which says that:  “….This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He sent.”

Under the New Covenant through Jesus, we have one commandment to keep – every thing is summed up in it:

“And this is His commandment: that we should BELIEVE on the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave us commandment.”  (I John 3.23)    As we believe on Him, as we love Him – we will be like Him.

“For it was fitting to Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, to bring many sons to glory….”        – Hebrews 2.10

He is bringing us into the Glory – His very own Presence, heavy with everything good.  All that we will ever need or desire is in Him.  So as we intently fix our gaze on the glory in His Word, we are coming into that very same image, without a doubt.

So let this be the cry of your heart today –  Father, I have vowed my life to You and there’s nothing that matters more to me than fulfilling Your Will.   There’s ONE thing I am desperate for, ONE thing I pursue with every cell, every fiber of my being – and that is YOU and what You have called me to be.  I’m chasing after Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness with all I have within me.  And I expect to stand in the full reality of Your destiny for me –

 . . . to be just like Jesus!

Copyright  © January 2006

Sharah LaGail Wyatt  /   First Love Ministries International

P O Box 163974  Ft Worth, TX  76161  /  www.ps27fr.org

All Rights Reserved.