Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

We are encouraged to set our eyes upon Jesus, we are to long for the day we see Him face to face, our longing should be for the hope set before us. Endure, run the race, wait patiently, all for the sake of the promises made.

I hurt now. I have problems now. I am in danger now. How about a little now action?

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I am not a child, I understand this, but Jesus knew what lay ahead with the knowledge derived by being One with the Father. Plus He is God. I am not.

I’ve been on the right side of this battle for over fifty years and I still ask why. Knowing God, understanding the promises, having faith exceedingly great, having seen deeply within the mysteries, having the blessed assurance and abounding grace still does not help me with the now.

You would think it would. We have been through so much, we look back upon those things of darkness and dryness, of thirst and hunger, seeing the hand of God working in those things, from this side. I have what I have because of it.

The now is here to build and equip in me those things which I do not have. Just as in my past when I cried out why Lord why and He answered me, after pulling me through those times.

But now ye also put off all these; put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Now is God’s way of moving us from what we were to what we will be.

As long as I have now, no matter what it feels like in me, God is still at work.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Is there a difference between image and likeness? If there is not, why mention both? Perhaps this is where God’s real intentions are stated. He not only wants us to look like Him, He wants us to act like Him.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Obviously God cares deeply about the condition of our hearts. He cares so much about the issues of the heart that He changes it for us.

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

The issue of one heart is one of likeness, being conformed to one standard.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Returning to the original design which God had for man in Genesis 1:26, to look like on the outside is insufficient to satisfy God’s original design, we must act like, to show His heart.

Luke 6:45a A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good;

James 1:22a But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,

It is not enough just to look good.