What in the world is God doing in my life? This question is mysterious in one sense, but also crystal clear in another. It is mysterious in the particulars, but clear in the goal. Scripture teaches us that God is forming us into the image and likeness of Jesus. The apostle Paul said (Rom. 8:29), “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Paul also said (1 Cor. 15:49), “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” Our Christian destiny is crystal clear—to bear the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

God’s goal of making us like Jesus has already begun. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18). As we put on the new self in Christ, there is renewal after the image of our Creator (Col. 3:10). The destiny God is carrying us towards—Christ-likenesses—is what God is doing now, tomorrow, and every day after that until Jesus takes us home.

But what does it mean to be like Jesus? We know what it means to be like Mike from the 90’s; it means to play basketball like the great Michael Jordan. But how do we do life like our great King of kings and Lord of lords? The answer is found in His life. In studying to teach Children’s Church one year for a Good Friday service, it was Jesus’ death that instructed me on how to be more like Him. Specifically, it was His words from the cross when they had crucified Him. Amidst searing pain up and down His body He prayed (Luke 23:34), “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” With agony penetrating His joints, He said to John (John 19:27), “Behold your mother.” With psychological pain battering His consciousness, Jesus thinks of others. He thinks of His enemies, His betrayers, His abusers and false accusers; He thinks of their needs, THEIR most important needs.

Isaiah 52:8 says, “By oppression and judgment He was taken away. Yet who of His generation protested?” No one stood up for Jesus; no one thought about Him, yet He stood up for them, thought of them, and loved them selflessly from the cross as they crucified Him. The Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3) cared not to abide in His own sorrows on the cross but cared deeply for the sorrows of others.

Scripture proclaims (Mark 15:24), “And they crucified Him,” yet He selflessly prayed for them. They crucified Him, yet He selflessly had compassion on them. They crucified Him, yet He selflessly interceded for them. This is part of what it means to be Christ-like—to forget self for the sake of others. Jesus was not concerned for His fame or popularity but for the mission the Father gave Him. How many self-filled thoughts, attitudes, and actions have ruined marriages, ministries, and lives? Being self-filled is like being alcohol-filled; it can produce the inability to see straight and function rationally.

What in the world is God doing in my life? The overarching answer is Christlikeness. What is God building me towards? Christlikeness. What is this thing in my life? It is part of becoming more like Christ. And that means a whole lot of forgetting self for the sake of others. That means a lot of gracious work within us by the patience, love, and wisdom of our Father every day. Rejoice that you have Jesus as Savior! Rejoice also that God would be willing and efficient to transform you into one of the best things that could ever happen to you—the image of Jesus.

“Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood, Sealed my pardon with His blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

“Man of sorrows,” what a name
P. P. Bliss (1875)