I have been working through Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians this past week. As I do my personal study I highlight and make notes in my Bible margin and when I complete a chapter, I write my thoughts based on my reading and meditation on the text. I often look back to journals from years past to see what my thoughts were at various times. One Scripture that has always drawn my focus is 2 Corinthians 3:18.
This verse strikes me as I can look at where God has taken me from, and also ahead to where He may be planning on taking me. He is “transforming” me. The transformation is amazing as read, because the ultimate image of the transformation is growing from “glory to glory” and being transformed closer and closer to the image of Christ. When we read that we could look back and easily say, “thank you Lord.” We can also look perhaps at our present situation and marvel at how hard the Lord is willing to work on our behalf.
Paul’s text speaks of the reflection in the mirror. That reflection is us. A reflection that is far from perfect, but if we are allowing Christ to work on areas in our life, a reflection that is changing to be more and more like Christ. 1 John 3:2 strengthens Paul’s statement by letting us know that when Christ appears, “we will be like Him.” As I stated earlier the transformation that takes place is done under the auspices of the Holy Spirit’s presence on our lives.
So how might this one line of Scripture help some today. I believe it points us to the confidence and hope that we can have in Jesus Christ. It is a confidence based on what Christ has already done. When He went to the cross, He went for you and I. He went so that you and I could be transformed away and out of our sin. Yes, it requires a decision or required a decision on our part at one point. A decision that we can make today if we have never made it or a reflecting back on the decision that we made in the past and we can now look at where Christ has brought us. If you read this and wonder about the plan that Christ has for you please feel free to reach out to me at PastorTom@GraceBaptistCT.com.