(tm) Image and Union
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Historically the Christian churches have viewed eternal residence in Heaven as the goal, the result of being saved. However venerable this tradition may be, it is not scriptural, neither in terms of the Old Testament nor the New.
The goal of salvation has two aspects. The first aspect is that we be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, first the moral image and ultimately, at His return, the bodily image. The second aspect of the goal of salvation is untroubled rest in the center of God’s Person and will.
To be in Christ’s image but not to be resting in the Father’s Person and will would be to bring a rebellious christ into the universe. Satan desires to be like the most High but would never be content to rest in the Father’s will.
We hear Christians today saying they want power. This is a dangerous desire. We ought to say we want to be in the image of the Lord and to be in the center of God’s will. Why do we want power?
To be in Christ’s image and at rest in God has nothing whatever to do with going to Heaven or with gaining power with God.
We do not press forward into the image of Christ and into union with God through Christ in order that we might have power or that we might minister. We press forward into the image of Christ and into untroubled rest in God in order that we might please God and serve Him in His Kingdom.
We do not have to wait until we are in the perfect image of Christ and perfectly at rest in God’s will in order to minister to people or to serve Christ in His Kingdom. But the more perfectly we are in the image of Christ, and the more completely we are dwelling in God’s rest, God’s will, the higher the quality is of our ministry to people and our service to Christ in His Kingdom.
So let us rejoice in the thought of going to be with the Lord when we die, but at the same time follow the Holy Spirit diligently as He fashions us in the moral image of Christ and leads us into perfect rest in God’s Person and will.
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