How will we know Jesus when we see Him?

Don’t let the darkness of the world today make you believe that your future is dark too. If you know Jesus, your future is nothing but light and life.

And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:4)

How do you recognize people? And, no, I’m not talking about their identity. That’s something else. I’m talking about knowing someone when you see them.

We rely on faces most of the time. Everyone has a unique face with a unique muscle structure that gives us our expressions. But are our faces the only way to recognize someone?

No, there are many ways to identify another person beside their faces.

There were two guys in my graduating class who had funny ways of walking. The way they walked was so distinctive I could recognize them from a mile away.

I know my mother’s voice. I have always been able to hear her voice anywhere, even in a crowded room of loudly talking people. No matter where we were, I could always find my way to her.

We have lots of ways to recognize people.

So a question that has been on my heart for a really long time is how am I going to know Jesus when I meet Him face to face?

I’ve never seen Him. I don’t know what He looks like. I’ve never audibly heard His voice. I’ve never seen Him walking from a distance away.

How am I going to know Him when I meet Him? Because I will see Him. That’s what this verse, and many others, explain to us. Our eternity will be with Him. We will see Him, live with Him, do life with Him face to face.

Jesus has had many faces over the two thousand years people have known His name. Every culture has a different way to represent Him in the images where He is featured. Sometimes He has long hair. Sometimes He has short hair. Sometimes brown eyes, black eyes, blue eyes. I’m sure there’s bound to be an image of a green-eyed Jesus out there somewhere.

I know some people take issue with the idea of creating an image of Jesus that represents Him. This is one reason why some folks disapprove of shows like The Chosen, where an actor portrays Jesus on screen. They feel like it is a violation of the second commandment against making an image of God.

Personally I feel like there’s a vast difference between creating an image to represent Jesus and setting that image up to be worshiped. But that’s a different conversation.

I’d like to think that He will be the first person I see when I get Home. I’d love to open my eyes and see Him. And I’m not worried about not recognizing Him.

I think I’ll know Him when I see Him. I think I’ll know Him because He knows me.

He knows everything about me, and He loves me anyway. He knows the struggles I’ve faced, the ones I’ve overcome and the ones that have overcome me. He knows the paths I’ve taken, the miles I’ve walked, the hurdles I’ve jumped, the mountains I’ve climbed, and the valleys I’ve stumbled through. He knows them all because He was with me every step of the way.

I’ve never heard His voice with my ears, but I hear His voice in my heart every morning when I spend time in His Word. I’ve never seen Him walking beside me, but I’ve felt His presence in the dark moments when I didn’t know what the next right step was.

I’ve never seen His face with my own eyes, but one day soon I will. I don’t think I will have words. Oh, well, I mean I’ll have words. I always have words. But I don’t think any of them are going to be able to get out. But that’s okay. We’ll have time. Maybe in a few million years I’ll be able to fully thank Him for all He’s done for me.

To get to watch the sun rise with a cup of coffee sitting next to Jesus (yes, there will be coffee in heaven)--I don’t think I’d ever get tired of that.

The world is dark right now and getting darker, and it’s really easy to get caught up in the chaos that’s all around us. The pain is overwhelming sometimes. The darkness can feel impenetrable. But everything we see here won’t last. There’s a better world coming, a better life, a better home, a better future.

Don’t let the darkness of the world today make you believe that your future is dark too. If you know Jesus, your future is nothing but light and life. Abundant.

And that’s something to look forward to.

Questions for Reflection

What do you think Jesus looks like?

What’s the first thing you’re going to do or say when you meet Jesus face to face?

What is one way you can start looking forward to your eternity with Jesus today?

Weekly Memory Verse