Growing in Christ-likeness is not an easy thing to do. We are unable to become like Christ in our own strengths and capacities. Truth be told, it's impossible in human terms. But with God, it's possible.
Are you having a hard time in the pursuit of Christ-likeness? If you are, I'd like to encourage you. You aren't the only one having a hard time becoming like our Lord and Saviour, the Firstborn over all creation – all of us Christians do.
It's a God-sized task
First and foremost, we must realise that the pursuit of Christ-likeness wasn't invented by some Jesus-wannabe. No, it's not invented by the first Christians either. This all-consuming pursuit has been brought forth by our Father God Himself, who created us.
Read Romans 8:28-30, which perfectly explains it for us.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."
Long before we were born, before we knew Christ, God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus. No, "predestined" doesn't mean it's going to happen automatically. What the passage meant was that God has intended all of the people He saved to be conformed to the image of Jesus. He does it by making all things work together for good, if we love God and we are in Christ.
God won't stop
This desire is found in God's own heart, and can and should be ours if we love Him and are truly following Him. Take heart, friend. If you desire to be conformed to the image of Christ just like the Father intends, you are in good hands – God won't stop until He makes it happen.
Philippians 1:6 tells us that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ."
This simply means that God will not stop until the work He has begun in us is completed. And its completion will be on the day that Christ returns.
He's just that committed: no matter how discouraged we are, no matter how many hardships we face in the pursuit of Christ-likeness, God won't stop. He'll be there to make it happen, as we hold on to Him.
