“We know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes (Jesus, himself and the new creation world he will usher in), the partial will pass away.” 1Cor.13:9-10. “We will see Jesus as he is, and we will be made like him” (1Jn.3:2). “Jesus’ perfect love will drive out our fears, and we will be made perfect in love” (Paraphrase of 1Jn.4:17-21)
Lord Jesus, there are many reasons I’m looking forward to your return. At the top of my list is finally seeing you as you are, being made like you, and being freed from every wrong, incomplete notion I’ve ever had about you and everything else. For knowing you “in part” means we only understand anything partially, which always impacts our relationships.
Any two believers who love you deeply—but incompletely, are capable of seeing important things in life quite differently. And this can lead to painful interchanges, stressed—even broken relationships. I’ve experienced this through the years—but just a few days after America’s presidential election, it is showing up with intensity, threat, and harm. Have mercy on us, Lord. Have mercy on me.
Jesus, we long for the Day when we will no longer know in part or love in part—the Day when we will never again label, dismiss, or marginalize one another. Heaven will be perfect unity, but not cookie-cutter uniformity. If two people agree about everything, one of them isn’t necessary. Our enemy isn’t diversity, but our inability and unwillingness to love well.
In eternity, we won’t all be 33 years old, with the same skin color, cultural markers, taste buds, musical preferences, gifts, passions, callings, and stories. But, hallelujah, it will be impossible for us to ever be selfish or sin again. We will finally love perfectly as you perfectly love us, Jesus. Hasten that Day, and help us love towards that Day, Lord. So Very Amen.