Shaped By Hope

Read: 1 John 3:1-3

All who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3

IN WORD

The world is full of false religious impulses—disciplines that change behavior without changing the heart, self-inflicted punishments as signs of penance, superficially imposed attitudes that only mask deeper flaws, and many more. At the root of many of these impulses is a desire to be pure. That’s a good desire that reflects the truth of our impure condition, but human beings seem to be woefully ignorant of how to fulfill that desire. Most attempts are full of self-effort, and a corrupt self can never make itself pure. That would be like a fire trying to put itself out with fire, or a mud puddle trying to cleanse itself with more mud. It won’t happen. When the source is the same as the subject, nothing is going to change.

So how can this God-given desire for purity be fulfilled? By looking to the source. John introduces this thought by directing our attention to the Father’s love (1 John 3:1), and emphasizes that we will be changed simply by seeing Jesus (3:2). Or as is often said, we become what we behold.

We always grow in the direction of our loves, don’t we? It’s natural. Whatever we love, whatever we gaze at affectionately, whatever we truly long for tends to shape us. Boys don’t try to act like their favorite athlete; they just do. Young musicians don’t work at emulating their favorite star; they just do. Lovers don’t impose painful disciplines in order to draw close to each other; they just do. So if we see divine love and gaze at the One who embodies it, we are filled with reciprocating love and become like Him. We are transformed by our hearts’ affections.

IN DEED

That’s how change happens in the Kingdom culture. It isn’t a set of rules no one wants to obey. It’s an environment that captivates our hearts, draws us to the King, and shapes us to be like Him. We are filled with hope in His coming, and like a bride or groom anticipating the wedding, our longings do the work of preparing us. In the process, we become pure just as He is pure.

ADDITIONAL READING: 2 Corinthians 3:18

We cannot help conforming ourselves to what we love.

FRANCIS DE SALES