We went to a family reunion yesterday for my husband’s family. There were a lot of people there, including his four brothers. Three of his brothers have the same father as him, and one has a different father. As I watched Chris walking and talking with the three who have the same father, I noticed that they looked the same from behind. They are all built like football players with strong protective looking shoulders. Their necks even look the same…that thick football player neck. These guys are built to protect. Their faces wear beards that look almost identical too. It’s really humorous to observe them.
I mentioned that three of the brothers have the same dad as Chris, but I didn’t mention that one of those has a different mom…yet he looks more like Chris than the others. In fact, the first time I saw him, years ago, it was at Wal-Mart, and I nudged Chris and said, “Hey, there’s a guy here that looks just like you.” He said, “Oh! That’s probably my brother, Robert.” And lo and behold, it was.
As I contemplated this, I heard the Father say, “Those who belong to the Father will always carry a resemblance to Him.”
It’s truly fascinating. The brothers Chris has with the same father are so similar, and the one with another father looks nothing like the rest. His hair color is completely different, and his body type is too. It’s so interesting the strength of the father’s genes in his children.
We carry a resemblance to our Father.
Believers can usually identify other believers, and that’s because we belong to the same family. You can usually count on it. When we meet people, we pick up on certain characteristics that indicate our relation. Those of us with discernment will see it in their spirit. We know our family.
Even if a believer is in a season of wandering or wondering, struggling with their faith, they can usually still be identified as part of the family.
That is, unless they begin to deny Jesus. I have had one friend do just that.
I met this friend when I married Chris. He quickly became both of our best friend. We worshiped with him weekly. We had game nights every week. We were all three together all the time, like family. Then he began to wander and wonder and got lost. Eventually, he began to say that Jesus was just a really great guy back in Bible times, but doubted He was Savior. It was at that time that he began to feel and look like a stranger.
I’ve never had this happen in my life before, but one who was so close and faithful one day, became a stranger the next. Now he views us with disdain. He can’t deal with being around us, and honestly, I find it difficult to be around him because of the liberal spirit he now carries.
And that’s the thing…his spirit changed. He once had the same Father as I did, then he chose to become an orphan again.
I’ve wrestled with this for many years now. Chris and I both still grieve him. We even talked about that a couple of days ago. I asked him, “I haven’t really gotten over it, have you?” He replied, “No.”
Even typing that brings tears to my eyes.
One who was once closer than a brother has now become a stranger. I wonder what that felt like when it happened to Jesus. When Judas turned away and betrayed Him unto the cross. I cannot imagine.
But knowing that Jesus has felt that, helps us to walk through this.
Don’t forget that no matter what, if you’re one of God’s kids you’ll carry His resemblance, and the world will know you without you having to say a word. Honestly, I think that’s a far greater testimony than words could ever give.
Oh Lord, help us to look more like our Father every day. Let us be known by our love and honor. Our hope and joy. Our faith and faithfulness. Help us to look more like You every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, which comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:14-18
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” 2 Peter 2:20-22
365 Days in the Presence 