Author: Cleveland Mcleish | Jamaica

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. (Ephesians 1:11)

In talking about the perfecting of love in us, John made a startling statement in 1 John 4:17 when he says, “..as he (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.” This is one line, but these few words have cosmic, eternal significance for you and I. When talking about our identity in Christ, we cannot escape the fact that the goal of salvation is to conform us back to our original image, which essentially is like Jesus. We were made to reflect God’s image in this realm; andChrist is His expressed image.

God loves us and desires to restore us to our original place in Him. There is a value placed on humanity that is not fully understood by our natural mind, but the truth is, who you are now is not necessarily who God intended you to be. Don’t get me wrong, you are where you should be, but you are also on a journey, so where you are now is not the destination. I want to introduce you to the concept of a ‘divine gaze.’ What you look at consistently is what you become. This should concern a lot of believers who spend a lot of time seeing and engaging demons. That was not God’s intention for us. Hebrews 12:1-2 says it like this:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The term ‘looking to Jesus’ can also be interpretted as fixing our gaze on Him. But why is this necessary? I believe Paul gives us an answer:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 – ESV)

There is only one path that will fully restore the image and likeness of God in us, and that is by gazing at Christ. This should be our practice when we pray, when we worship, when we give, when we love. You always become what you gaze at.

Prayer

Father, help me to fix my eyes on You, the Author, and the Finisher of my faith. You stand at the beginning of who I am now, and You also stand at the end of who I am becoming. As I acknowledge that my becoming is dependent on what I look at, may I see no or none other, but You, in Jesus Name. Amen.