Contrast. . .Change

In his dying hour, David asked his son Solomon to execute vengeance upon men who had opposed the king and his purposes (I Kings 2:1-9).

In His dying hour, the Lord Jesus Christ asked His Father to bestow mercy upon those who had nailed Him to His cross –“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:46).

This observation is not intended as criticism toward David, an imperfect but godly man declared by the Lord to be “a man after Mine own heart” (Acts 13:22). We rather intend to illustrate the contrast between the Lord Jesus and all others. Indeed, the best and brightest among the human race fall far, far short of the person our Savior was and is. If we have trusted in Him, the process of being conformed to His image proceeds as God works all things together for this holy purpose (Romans 8:28-29). Nevertheless, a long journey of spiritual and moral change awaits all of us because the summit to which we ascend reaches far beyond our best thoughts and highest imaginings. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways” (Isaiah 55:9).

Certainly, we do well to respect and admire those Biblical figures such as David who in many ways trusted and obeyed their Lord. The same is true for those in our lives who exemplify Christ’s love and faithfulness. However, we seek maintain rapt attention and focus solely on the Lord Jesus as we remember and respond to God’s holy purpose in our lives. The perspective drives us to our knees in awed worship and wonder, and then raises us up to walk the power of our Savior to enable genuine godliness by His indwelling presence – “I will dwell in them and walk in them” (II Corinthans 6:16). In Heaven and earth, there is no one like our Savior. If we have believed, however, we are involved in a process of change into His spiritual and moral likeness, as effected by the saving grace of God that justifies, sanctifies, and will ultimately glorify us…

“Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”’ (II Corinthians 3:18) “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as He is.” (I John 3:2)