The Product of Our Association

1 Jn. 3:2  ...when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.


People influence our lives.  And we influence their lives, too.  Through relationships or associations, transformation occurs in us.  Sometimes it is immediately noticeable but usually change is a gradual process.  We take on, let's say inherit, their characteristics.  Association brings assimilation.  Simply put, we rub off on each other.

Negative, angry, bitter people can actually cause us to act and feel the same way they do.  Conversely, positive, happy and contented people can produce these same attitudes in us.  People either build us up or bring us down.  We need to always be mindful of the effect others are having on our lives and the effect we are having on theirs.

This particular verse speaks of our association or relationship with Jesus.  It is relevant in our everyday earthly lives and will certainly one day be relevant in our eternal heavenly ones.  Take a minute and think about how absolutely necessary and critically important this relationship really is.

When we seek His presence in this life, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13).  He reveals Himself to us.  Through assimilation then, we take on or inherit His characteristics and become (more) loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.  Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  Partaking in the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4).  Jesus rubs off on us!  Abiding in His presence causes us to become more Christ-like and we are wonderfully transformed.  His presence in our lives, without fail, produces a change in us.

One day, when Christ returns, that is to say He is finally or ultimately revealed, our most important of all associations, with Him, will produce the most glorious result.  We will experience the fullness of what we were created to be and receive our incorruptible inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4).  We will truly and totally be like Him because we will see Him and be with Him.  Forever becoming the product of our association!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Association brings assimilation.