To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life, and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk, and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting scriptures and going to church. It is actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. In (Revelations 3:7), Jesus commends the church for keeping both his Word and his name. It become apparent that God wants us to know Him by name for His name represents to us who He is. “I baptize you in the name of the Father (first) [I AM], and of the Son (middle) [Jesus], and of the Holy Spirit (last) [the Holy Ghost]” are the words usually spoken just before burying a penitent person in the waters of baptism. Did you know that man is the only thing that God created that has to be born twice? Born into the world, and then born into the kingdom of God. He is going to have to be reborn if he is saved. What is it you have got to do? You have got to bury him. And it better be into Christ by baptism and rise into the world in newness of life. The apostle Paul tells us; “Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). That was the day when I died, and someone else lived to become my “new name” sealed in my heart; [ I AM Jesus the Holy Ghost]. Colossians 3:3 explains, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” See its not about me. The Bible says in Revelation Chapter 7 verses 9 and 10, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number… And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God… “It is not about us; it is all about what God has done for us. We affirm David’s declaration (Psalms 139:14). Not only have we been given eyes to see, but we have also been made so that, in Christ, one day we will see Him! “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Today we qualify to be in God’s presence not on the basis of rituals, but on the basis of our righteousness in Christ. “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10). We are all called to intimate fellowship with God, and relating to Him through Christ is our birthright as adopted sons of the Father. God has always intended for us to be “conformed to the likeness of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). However, going beyond the veil-communing with God at the deepest level-requires that we be transformed. When you pass through the veil into the most holy place, the work of the flesh ceases and the work of the heart of God begins. It is there that you will begin to see what God is doing, over and above hearing His voice. This transformation is not “revival but renewal.” It is not a return to what was, because it never was. But it is an embracing of what can be today and tomorrow and tomorrow. The scriptures tell us “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Let God lead you through His Word all the way into His presence behind the veil because that is where the impossible is not only possible- it becomes reality. The more of the impartation of God’s grace (the power of the Word working in you) you experience, the more your outer man will reflect His glory-and that is when His power will be released through Christ in you. “But we all, with unveiled face; beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). The phrase “we all…” refers to anyone who is turned toward the Lord; our minds will stay focused on ways to serve Him, and our actions will further His kingdom on earth and in heaven. Paul says as much in verse 16: “but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away”. This means that whatever occurs in your life from that point on is the result of decisions you make that originate from the heart of God- not your flesh. Free your mind and the rest will follow. If we are fully beholding the Christ, the transformation that takes place will be the work of the Holy Spirit, and it will last for eternity. God loves us. Most of us know this. But how many of us feel it? Paul knew that understanding God’s love was a difficult proposition. He believed supernatural revelation was required even to get started (Ephesians 3:16-19). Who is Jesus Christ? Many people will acknowledge Jesus Christ as a good man, a great teacher, or even a prophet of God. These things are definitely true of Jesus, but they do not fully define who He truly is. The Bible tells us that Jesus is God in the flesh, God in human form (see John 1:1, 14). God came to earth to teach us, heal us, correct us, forgive us-and die for us! Jesus Christ is God, the Creator, the sovereign Lord. Have you accepted this Jesus? Fully beholding Christ makes it possible for us to fully realize what it means to be made in the image of God. If you are in Christ, and Christ in you; there is a King in you! God is your king. The Word is in you! This is how God conveyed His love to us. God did not reveal His love in a social media update. He showed us His love by showing up in skin. Reading John 1:14, the description of Jesus as “the Word” gets personal. The apostle John knew the power of face to face communication because he was a believer in Jesus. John says, “The Word became flesh.” Literally, the Son of God took on all that is involved in being human. Then John adds that the Word “made his dwelling among us.” The power of “the Word” is not discovered by yourself, its discovered with others. God drew you into His house to discipline you so that in turn, you will make disciples. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance-but what we do in God’s kingdom is not about gifts. It is about snatching others from the fire of destruction, for Jude 23 says: “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” You must be the Jesus you want to see in this world. Before you can face holiness; you got to face yourself. Here is the thing; We must open ourselves to the face of Jesus to fully experience His love. John says that soon Jesus will return, and “we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2). In that moment we will understand that we could not possibly be more known or loved. Jesus already sees us as we really are, and He unconditionally accepts all who receive His unfathomable grace. This deeply personal love is best shared with others in person (3 John 1:13-14). If we want to reach others, we must be willing to do so face to face. The apostle James said that reading or hearing God’s Word without acting on it is like looking in a mirror and forgetting what we have seen (James 1:22-24). But the better alternative is to look closely and act on what we see. James said, “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (v.25). When we examine ourselves in light of God’s Word and obey His instruction, God liberates us from all that keeps us from looking more and more like Him each day. What will we be like when the transformation is complete? How will we know? We will know when we are mirror images of Him because we are seeing Him face to face. What a comfort to know how close God comes to be with us! Look to the One who died to save us from ourselves and from our many sins. He leaves the choice to us. If you are looking at a hero, you are just looking into a mirror. What if Osama Bin Laden the terrorist had turned his face toward Christ like the thief on the cross who said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42)? Now only eyes of faith can see Jesus for who he is. But one day, as the apostle Paul declares, when Jesus return, all of creation will recognize this Savior for who he is and finally bow before Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords (see Philippians 2:9-11). Paul, who was imprisoned many times, shows us we can be happy and content regardless of our circumstances because we have faith in Christ. Locked in prison, Paul still rejoices because his joy was in Christ, not in external circumstances. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11- 12). What a testimony of faith! Like Paul, I was incarcerated for twenty-one years of my life at three different times and served nine years on parole, but now I am free. While doing time I had my mind renewed (see Romans 12:2). I have learned to think about my life in an entirely new way. Although I felt ashamed of my past, I made a decision to put my life in the hands of God. I surrendered myself to God and got born again in Christ, the King of my life. It was a beginning to the end of my problems. When nothing else would help; God precious love lifted me. God is an expert at fixing what Satan has tried to destroy. He made me to be who I am. Look at the first chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians. Writing to these saints, the apostle says, when he thanks them for their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Do you see that? Who began the good work in you if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus…? The Holy Spirit of God. “But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). It was He who convicted me of sin, it was He who led me to put my trust in Christ, it was He through the Word gave me the witness that I was saved, it is He who has been conforming me to Christ since I first trusted the Lord Jesus. Very often a person with a shame-based nature experiences depression. There is medicine that may possibly help the symptoms of depression, but no medicine from a drugstore can heal a person from shame. Only the medicine of God’s Word can do that. God’s Word healed me, and it will do the same thing for you, if you apply it diligently. God urges us to apply His Word (Isaiah 42:23; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:4), but too often we stop at accumulating bible knowledge. Applying God’s Word means reading and studying it and stepping out on it. Stepping out on the Word of God means doing what God has instructed me to do in His Word rather than what I think, want, or feel. I followed God’s way, not the world. I apply His Word to my situation and watch it work as He has promised. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth;” (Romans 1:16). I am truly committed to this purpose. My task is to carry the message, and to lead by example, not design (1 Peter 2:21). I wonder can you see the gospel in action; it is calling today like it did yesterday. Embracing God’s love for us is the key to loving others. Going to heaven is like being in someone else heart after you are gone. I AM in heaven right here on earth. May Jesus Christ, the Lamb of the Book, be praised forever and ever! AMEN