Satisfied With Thy Likeness

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Ps. 17:15) [Note: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” (Is. 64:6) “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Phil. 3:9)]

It is a truth that we shall all stand, bow, and confess before the judgment seat of the eternal God one day; but the question is, will it be in a state of condemnation or a state of righteousness? If we attempt to stand in our own righteousness, it will be unto condemnation; if we stand in the righteousness of Christ it will be unto everlasting life. Those who purpose to stand in their own righteousness will seek to flee from the face of God; but those who resolve to stand in the righteousness of the Son will yearn to see the Father’s face. There is no fear of the Father when one is clothed upon with the likeness of the blessed Son of His righteousness.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “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.” (Rom. 8:29) Every believer will be conformed to the image of His dear Son Jesus, who is the righteousness of God. The word “conformed” signifies “to be fashioned;” and the word “image” means “likeness.” Hence, every true believer will be fashioned into the likeness of Jesus, who is the righteousness of the Father. When we behold the face of the eternal Father we shall have been clothed upon by His own righteousness through the blood of the blessed Saviour. We shall be in the “likeness” of the Son and the Father. O how we long for that glorious day! We shall be as He is!!!

“When I awake” in David’s prayer refers to the event when the saints will be awakened by “the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” unto the resurrection. In this life we are such miserable creatures having been subjugated in the degradation of sinful flesh; but it will not remain so. When He awakens us we shall behold His face having been fashioned in His own righteousness, and we shall find no fault being in the likeness of our Saviour. We shall be completely satisfied in the likeness of His righteousness!!!