Post by: Maggie Anderson
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
Looking like Christ. It’s an idea that we as Christian’s are familiar with. Something that all of us strive for. But how do we imitate Christ? How do we become so much like Him that people can see Him in us?
When asked about how hard it was to sculpt the statue of David, Michaelangelo had a quick reply. “It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David.” Probably the most well known, iconic statue ever created and it was “easy.” There’s a lesson to be found in this analysis. You see, if we are to look like Christ, it begins by chipping away the things that don’t look like Him.
When we begin to chip away things, often they’re the “big” ones. We chip away our obvious sins and shortcomings, just as with a statue the largest segments of rock are removed first. We begin to take the general form of Christ when we are saved. Suddenly our priorities and ideas change. We form a relationship with God, and things of the world naturally begin to fall away. We give up drinking. We remove ourselves from circles that encourage sin. We form new groups with people who build us up spiritually. This is the time of the most rapid and radical change. It’s when you really feel the strides you’re making to look like Christ. And it’s clearly seen by those around you.
I want to take a moment to say if you’ve recently been saved, I’m so proud of you! Following Christ isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. I’m so glad to be able to call you my brother/sister in Christ! Now, if people around you are saying things like “you’ve changed” “what happened to the old you?” GOOD! That comes with the territory and is just the outward evidence of what has taken place inside of you. I encourage you to tell anyone you can about what has happened to you and why you look like someone new— because you are!
Once the large components are removed we get into the more detailed work. Before his features were sculpted the statue of David could have very well been the statue of Gary who lives next door. This is where the “little things” are chiseled away. Maybe you have no problem with showing the love of Christ to others, but can’t keep yourself from talking about them once they leave the room. Maybe you hold prejudices that keep you from truly loving all people like Jesus. It’s at this point that all the sneaky stuff has to be removed. The thing about this stage is, while maybe not difficult, it does take more time.
Sometimes we get stuck here. The changes and progress become slower and we don’t like that we aren’t seeing the major results we were at first. This can lead to periods where no progress is made. One thing about stone is that when left to the elements it erodes. Little details begin to wash away if it isn’t cared for properly. In the same way we sometimes neglect our relationship with Christ in these seasons. We may think since there’s no major progress that there’s no reason to commune with Him daily. Quite the opposite is true. If we falter in this stage of growth we often end up going backwards. Our features that began to reflect Christ may become dull as we fall back into old patterns. Even when you don’t feel the work being done in your life it is imperative that you remain just as close to the one performing the work.
Now, on earth we will never truly look just like Christ. That means that the work taking place to shape us is never finished. God is continuously working on us, changing us to look like His Son. ”Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.“ Isaiah 64:8.
No matter what stage you may be in I urge you to remain close to your creator. Let Him chip away at all the parts that don’t look like Him. Even when you don’t feel the progress, hold on. One day you’ll look back and won’t even recognize who you were before.
As we end I want you to pray this with me. Jesus, I thank you for giving me the perfect example. I ask that you would begin to transform me. Chip away the things of this world until I look like you. Help me to remain faithful, even when the process takes time. I love you, and praise you for all you have done and all you will continue to do. In Jesus name, Amen.
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