Bearing the Father's Image

1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Some forty-two years ago, my brother and I participated in a teen choir at our church which proved to be one of the most helpful and encouraging events of my teenage years. The previous summer I had just experienced a call to the ministry, and as any young person seeking God’s will for their life, I wanted some confirmation that the call was genuine. Those two years singing in the teen choir helped solidify that call in my life.

Recently, one of the men, now a pastor himself, contacted as many of the old members of the teen choir to see if any of them were interested in a reunion. The response he got was overwhelming. Plans were made, we met at a restaurant near our old church for a meal together, and then we gathered at the church for fellowship and singing. We had a wonderful time. I was good to see old friends, some of whom I had not seen for over thirty years.

After the meal, as we were walking up to the youth center of the church (our old haunt during our teen years), one of my brother’s friends remarked to me, “Boy, you sure look like your dad.” I responded that I was well aware of the physical resemblance, but wished I had more of my father’s character traits. “That must be intimidating,” he said, “does it bother you?” I told him that everyday I get up and look in the mirror to see my father’s face and stature. While not near as strong a man as he, I have the stocky-build through the chest and my wife says I walk just like him.

All this brought me to the thought that we are to bear the image of our Heavenly Father and we are to covet His divine character in our lives. Our text tells us that if we are of the heavenly we will bear the image of the heavenly. The old adage, “You are the only Jesus some folks will ever see” holds true. So I ask myself these two questions: 1) What do others think of my earthly father when they see me? and 2) What do people think of Almighty God when they look at my life?

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: