November 4th, 2013
Corinthians 3:18 — But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
On Friday, I wrote about the need to take joy in the journey, and to focus on no destination except the final destination. There are more aspects to journeys though … Keith and Kristin Getty are wonderful purveyors of what I might call traditional hymns with a modern flavor. This morning I heard Kristin Getty singing these beautiful words by Margaret Becker:
Jesus draw me ever nearer as I labour through the storm. You have called me to this passage,and I’ll follow, though I’m worn.
May this journey bring a blessing, may I rise on wings of faith; And at the end of my heart’s testing, with Your likeness let me wake.
Jesus guide me through the tempest; Keep my spirit stayed and sure. When the midnight meets the morning, let me love You even more.
Let the treasures of the trial form within me as I go – And at the end of this long passage, let me leave them at Your throne.
It’s that sentence at the end of the second sentence that really fell upon my ear: “And at the end of my heart’s testing, with Your likeness let me wake.” The verse at the head of this piece says so many things … but the message is that we are being changed into the very image of Jesus.
Some of how we should think about this depends on looking closely at the original language. “by the Spirit of The Lord” could well be translated as “from the Lord the Spirit” — the implication is that the Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus to initiate the transformation in us. Our journey is leading to our transformation into the image of Christ … it is the journey from justification through sanctification to glorification. God said “Let Us make man in Our image”. Our reflection of that image is flawed, but the Spirit of The Lord is taking us on a step-by-step journey back to the image of Christ.
This is so wonderful to me. I can hardly take it in — but the song says it for me: “May this journey bring a blessing, may I rise on wings of faith; … Let the treasures of the trial form within me as I go”. I pray that any vestiges of pride can be washed out of my character, that I can fully surrender and learn to accept the blessings of the journey to the throne.