[W]e know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.How can just seeing someone, even the risen Christ, change us so completely?
The recent delight in Susan Boyle's unexpected performance on "Britain Has Talent" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY) illustrates what John is saying. When we watch the clip, we and the audience have a certain set of expectations, reactions and attitudes toward her. When she begins to sing, those attitudes undergo a major shift. Why? Because we have "seen her as she is."
Seeing and knowing someone as they really are changes our attitude toward that person.
Since the meaning of "sin" in the Bible is basically the matter of a wrong attitude toward God, seeing him as he really is, in Christ, will dramatically change our attitude toward God - and toward those things which compete within us for our affection and loyalty (I John 2:15-17).
The heart, therefore, in overcoming sin in our lives is not to try to focus on the sins and trying to keep them under control, but to focus on getting to know God better. The more deeply and truly we know God intimately, the more our sins will be both apparent and abhorrent to us.
So let's constantly pray, "Lord, reveal more of yourself to me and us. Show me and us more of what you are really like. Increase omy and our affection for you."
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