I saw a news article recently about a woman who underwent sixteen surgeries to remove 6 of her ribs just so she could make her waist smaller and form her body to look more like she wanted it to. There are many people who spend thousands of dollars, undergo painful procedures, etc., just to look “better” in the eyes of this world. However, most people scoff at the idea or thought of removing things from their lives, spending more time in the Bible, and focusing more on God to become more like Jesus Christ.
All of the “improvements” (if you could call them that) one makes to their body will eventually be gone, and even lead to painful and difficult experiences later in life. BUT – conforming our lives to become like the most PERFECT person who ever lived on the face of this earth – Jesus Christ, will not only make our lives here MUCH better, but it will also have everlasting impacts, not only in our own future, but also in the lives of those around us who see God working in us, and are through His glory – drawn themselves to a personal relationship with the Saviour.
1 John 2:6 tells us, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
Paul wrote in Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” In other words, if we TRULY ARE followers of Jesus Christ, we should seek to become like HIM…NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS US!
Remember Paul’s instruction in Galations 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” This life is NOT ABOUT ME!!! It’s about Jesus Christ and becoming MORE and MORE like Him! I don’t know how much clearer I can make it…If you TRULY KNOW JESUS – you WILL seek to become more like HIM! NOT MORE LIKE THIS WORLD!!!! And yet, that is what THOUSANDS of people who claim to be Christians do – they focus their attention on this world, and try to live as close to the world as they can get!!
THAT my friend is NOT a TRUE CHRISTIAN! We are to focus on God and becoming more like Him and His Son! “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) What are YOU focused on?