Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

10 December 2025

Reading From Revelation 1

“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

—John 1:12-18

     The image of Christ Jesus in His exalted state is intense to say the least, but also seemingly different from the appearances after His resurrection and before His ascension.  I was tracking with it until the sword came out of His mouth; that’s pretty wild.  Perhaps this is symbolic imagery of His Word, which is described as a double edged sword elsewhere in the New Testament.[1]  The conclusion I draw from this passage is that Jesus exists today in a glorified, exalted state and is filled with splendor and glorious power.  He is the One in whom I discover my true identity, community and destiny.

     One day we will be like Him.  Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5, “For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”[2] And in Philippians 3:21 speaks of Jesus “who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” 

     God gives us apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and the goal of our faith journey and His ministry in us and through us is to be restored, conformed back into His image to the glory of the Father.   “[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.”[3]  Our aim through the process of rebirth, sanctification, and glorification (or, exaltation) is total unity within the eternal family of God, including perfect harmony with Him.

     I marvel at the love and care of Jesus, who is all-powerful and all-knowing, and yet thinks to comfort and reassure us, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.”[4]  Our destiny as the adopted sons and daughters of the Most High God is to be like Jesus.  We will have glorified bodies, our capacity for knowledge will be exponentially expanded, function in His power and authority at His direction, and be perfectly holy as He is.  I am called to follow His perfect example of servant leadership; to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God.[5]

     We will be exalted beings, but not objects of worship.[6]  Worship belongs only to God.[7]  We will judge angels and reign with Christ for eternity as priests and priestesses, kings and queens.[8]  In these matters, it is vital to have the proper, eternal perspective that He has revealed to us in His Word, the sword of the Spirit which proceeds from the mouth of Christ.[9] I John 3:2 reveals to us that, “Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”  The same power which will glorify us to be like Him also brings together all things, including us, and brings all under His authority.[10]  The revelation of Jesus Christ given through the beloved Apostle John provides for us a glimpse into our destiny.[11]

“Thank You Jesus for Your blood that was shed for my ransom. Your atonement made possible the path to oneness with You and with Your eternal family.  You have delivered me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into Your Kingdom of Light.  Empower me by Your Spirit to continually reject my old way of life and walk with You in the newness of life.  Make me like You, Jesus.  May I decrease so that You would increase in my life.  Increase my faith and reliance upon You.  Show me what it means to function in the power of Your Spirit and in Your authority.  Transform me from glory to glory as I grow and progress according to Your will.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

—John 17:20-23

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[1] Hebrews 4:12

[2] II Corinthians 5:4

[3] Ephesians 4:13

[4] Psalm 8:4

[5] Micah 6:8, John 13:15, I Peter 2:21

[6] Exodus 4:16, Psalm 82:6, Matthew 23:12, John 10:34

[7] Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 10:21, Psalm 95:6, Isaiah 42:8, Matthew 4:10, Romans 12:1, Revelation 22:8-9

[8] Exodus 19:6, Romans 8:17, I Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6, Galatians 3:28, I Corinthians 6:3, II Timothy 2:12

[9] II Timothy 2:15, James 1:5

[10] Ephesians 1:9-10, Phillippians 3:10

[11] John 17:20-23, II Peter 1:4, Revelation 20:6