We are predestined to be like Christ.

The Holy Scriptures reveal that God predestined all of us before the foundation of the world to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30

This text shows that God’s plan for each of us is to make us resemble Christ. He wants us to reflect Christ through our thoughts and actions. This concretely means that we must strive to manifest what Christ manifested on earth. In this same vein, Jesus Christ himself declared that whoever believes in Him will do the works He has done and even greater things.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father;” John 14:12

I particularly love this text from John 14:12 because it clearly shows us that resembling Christ is not only possible but is also the Lord’s desire for all of us. What characterizes Christ. If we are to resemble Christ, it is essential that we know what Christ is like or what characterizes Him. During His time on earth, Jesus Christ said, among other things, that He was the bread from heaven and the sacrificed lamb.

As both the lamb and the bread, Jesus Christ came to give life. To give life, He had to accept losing His own. We can therefore affirm that Christ accepted to lose His life for the sake of all humanity. No one took His life from Him, but He willingly gave it for the salvation of many.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

In his epistle to the Philippians, the apostle gives an excellent description of Christ in His person and character.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8

Based on the above, we can certainly affirm that resembling Christ requires accepting loss. This is why Jesus also said that whoever wants to follow Him must deny themselves.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24

If we want to resemble Christ, we have no other choice but to train ourselves to accept loss at all times. We must also consider that our lives consist of losing so that others may gain. By doing so, we will be true disciples of Christ. This is how God the Father will be glorified…

This text is an excerpt from the book “ACCEPTING TO LOSE TO BETTER SUCCEED” written by Dominique MBOG.

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