I believe that within the heart of the Father there is a desire and willingness to deposit a supernatural grace to those who would ask. A specific grace that gives him great pleasure to dispense. A grace to gaze upon his Beloved, Jesus Christ. The Father’s greatest desire is for his Son to receive the full measure of his inheritance.
What does this mean? The Father desires for every human being on planet earth to gaze upon the surpassing glory and beauty of Jesus Christ. Why? So that in the continual process of beholding His Son all of his children would become like him. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rom. 8:29). All who are in Christ have been predestined by God to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Nearly two thousand years ago these words were proclaimed by John the Baptist, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29). I believe the Spirit of God is still beckoning a people to do this very thing. Not merely just to glance at Jesus but to continually individually and corporately, as a lifestyle, gaze upon the person of Jesus Christ.
To gaze at the Son of God whose eyes are like blazing fire (Rev. 1:14). As we gaze into the Man whose eyes are like flames of fire it singe’s sin and subdues the devil. All striving to suppress and subdue sin in your own strength will cease. It is in this place of beholding Jesus that we are transformed into His very likeness.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). The Greek word, katoptrizō translated as “contemplate” in this verse has another way it could be understood. It literally means to “reflect or beholding as in a mirror.” This is incredible! We will become like what we behold. This is true in all areas of our life and the evidence of this is clear.
For example, have you ever seen die-hard sports fans? Everyone has seen this. From their overwhelming passion and obsession people get to the point where their homes, cars, and bodies are decorated with all of their favorite sports memorabilia. How did they get to this point? Were they born burning with a passion for this specific sports team? No, this type of obsession came from watching their games day in and day out. They have become what they beheld for so many years. Our culture would call these types of people devoted sports fans. In reality they have become worshippers of the very thing they have been beholding. Their hearts have come to treasure and follow their team faithfully. They have tapped into the very nature of how God created us to worship, behold and become like Him. However, they are not beholding or worshiping God. They are treasuring something far inferior to Jesus Christ.
What does your heart treasure most? I can guarantee that whatever you treasure most will be the thing that you spend the most time doing. Whatever sits enthroned on the throne of our hearts is our God. Is Jesus Christ seated on the throne of your heart? There is a war waging in the unseen realm right now (even as you read this) over the affections of your heart. It is a war of conformity.
Will we be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ or will we be conformed into the image of this world and satan? “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2) Whatever has our attention has us. Does Jesus have you? Jesus is worthy to receive his full inheritance in his holy people.
My invitation to you is to behold the Son of God! He is worthy of far more than just a glance. He is worthy of his people individually and corporately continually as a lifestyle gazing upon his glory and beauty. This is the way we will be transformed into his likeness.
If you have absolutely no desire nor discipline to do so, cry out to the Father for the grace to gaze at his beloved Son. He will not rebuke you for asking nor shame you for lacking. He longs to give this gift to you more than you long to have it. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 Jn. 5:14). Receive this grace by faith, it will transform your entire life.
