There are so many personalities today that represent some sport, event, activity and education. There is Bill Gates (computer magnate), Tiger Woods (the best golfer), Manny Pacquiao (the best boxer), Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes (the best billiards player) and so many others. Their achievements are heard all over the world. Some people envy their success and wanted to be in their place. They wanted to be that person whom they envy. They do not want their situation but wanted someone else's. Somebody might say, “So, what’s new? Almost everybody wanted to be somebody else and to be someone important and famous.” Before we proceed further, let us take one example in the life of Bruce Lee (my favorite martial artist). Bruce Lee was the most talented, skilled, fastest and strongest of all martial artists during his time. He had a son named Brandon Lee. Bruce Lee died leaving his wife, his 5 year old son and his baby girl. He didn’t have time to teach or disciple his son. But Brandon Lee rose into fame with his films (Rapid Fire, The Crow). He eventually inherited the strength, speed and charisma of his father; even if he barely remembers his dad. It’s in the genes. Thus, it is only right for a person to be like his father. Therefore, if you want to be somebody in the world then better look who your father is; it has always been an inherited trait.
Our Heavenly Dad
Gen 1:26 states, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. Another passage in the Bible amazes me; in Matt 5:48 Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Combining both passages result in one great fact; we are God’s children (But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name - John 1:12) created in His IMAGE and LIKENESS. Therefore, we can conclude that we have the greatest Dad ever; the most powerful, most loving, most understanding, most giving, most forgiving and the most of all the best most! Note that His love for us is so great that He had sacrificed His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). What a great Father!
Thus, if God is our Father, what do you expect the person that you will be? For example, if Manny Pacquiao is your father, you expect to become a great boxer. If Tiger Woods, then a great golfer. If Efren Reyes then a great billiards player. What about this; if God is your Father, you expect to become a ____________________ (fill in the blanks).
The Image and Likeness of the Father
During the Old Testament times, Israel was having a hard time keeping up with God. Why? There was no example to be compared with. The sickness of man can be summed up with this phrase: “To see is to believe”. The New Testament time up to now is more blessed because there is One Person that we can compare with; Jesus Christ. By knowing Him we can project the image of our Father. By imitating Him we can be after the likeness of our Father. But the question is how can we be like our Father? In Matthew 5:16, it states “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Again, how can we let our light shine?
The Person You Can Be
Have you ever thought what you would be? Let us consider the words of Jesus, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12” Note that greater works shall we do. But how can these works manifest in our lives? Matthew 28:19-20 is God’s Great Commission. But note that God will not send us alone; v. 20 states that “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” The Lord has given specific instruction for us to go, teach, baptize and disciple; and He will be with us every step of the way. It is up to us to carry on this Great Commission. But there is one big problem that most Christians have; they always tend to hold out their best.
Reasons Why Christians Hold Out
Doing what you can. “Do your best”, a phrase commonly used to encourage people. Let’s modify it. Say to yourself, “Do what you can”. The reason why we must do what we can is sometimes our best is not enough; our best for today may not be our best tomorrow. Do what you can and aim to do better than your yesterday’s best. One common example for not doing what we can is on buying the best chinaware. We settle on cheap plates and worn out spoons and forks while we have the best china in the neighborhood. When our children wanted to use them, we scold them and say something like this, “That’s reserved for visitors and special occasions”. Another example would be one’s prepared sermon outline. You prepared your best sermon and you reserved it for a special Sunday; you don’t want to waste it the coming ordinary Sunday service. You might say to yourself, “Better keep this for my preaching in the big city”.
Doing what we can is simply trusting God to do the rest. Use your china, preach your sermon; the Lord will replace it with better ones if you use the things God has given and entrusted to you. Do what you can as if it is the last day of your life. Do what you can as if your very life depended on it. Matt 10:39 states, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” As Charles L. Allen have wrote in his book, In Quest of God’s Power, “Why have nice things if they are always too nice to use? Saving is a virtue that can become a fault”.
Abraham Lincoln’s Fundamentals
Abraham Lincoln once said to a group of boys, “… if you will lead a decent, clean life, trust God and work hard, you can rise, and the only thing that will limit you is your industry, your character, and your brain.” Abraham Lincoln was the best president of the United State of America. His heart was a heart of love. He prayed for his nation everyday, kneeling and crying for God to save the land.
He also said, “What we are is far more important than what we have”. We have to build on the image of Christ in our lives. We must be like Jesus. Abraham Lincoln gave us some of his fundamentals of building the image of Christ.
· Clean Life. Someone has said, “Wrong is wrong even if everybody is doing it. Right is right even if nobody is doing it.”
· Hard Work. A man once said to Thomas A. Edison, “You are a genius.” He replied, “Before I was a genius, I was a slave.”
· Trust God. Charles Allen wrote, “While I cannot explain the marvelous power of the Christian faith, I do know it does work miracles in a human life, and I can point out the steps by which one can obtain that faith.”
The Best Is Yet To Come
Brethren, I believe that God has called us for a reason; a reason that you and I can never explain. But as long as we try to be the person that God wants us to be, a person in His image and likeness the best is yet to come. Do what you can to allow God’s best plans to manifest in your life.
The Person You Can Be
By Ptr. JC Balao
1. Afraid of the responsibilities. Most Christians have the potential of great leaders yet they tend to hold out. They are afraid of the responsibilities that are given and think that they are not capable of doing it. They doubt themselves and begin to sulk. They try to stay away from the service of God because they doubt that God will see them through.
2. Afraid of what people may think about them. Pride is the number one thing in the trash list. As Christians, we must remove pride in our lives. If you were given the responsibility of leading the worship songs, don’t think about your skills. Don’t put too much emphasis on skills because the Lord wants honesty. No matter what happens, the responsibility is given to you and not to somebody else. That means that the Lord trusts you in that ministry. No matter what other people may think, carry on; keep on; move on.
3. Afraid of losing the situation. There is no victory without failures. There are no lessons learned without mistakes. Put the mind of Christ, wear His robe of humility and God will do the rest.