WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE?

Not much you can do about your physical appearance, right? Oh I know, you can diet and exercise, but short of radical means (various types of surgeries, for example), what you're born with through DNA is what you'll end up with, only older and wrinlier.

How refreshing then, but also how sobering, is that there is something that we can do about our spiritual character. We are to grow into the image of Christ--it's why we've been re-created (that is, been born again/anew/from above), but we can retard that progress by inattentiveness or unconcern.

Dallas Willard's thoughts about this unnerve me. He speaks of "freely chosen character." That means who and what we are now is what we desire to be. He also warns us of the false idea that, once we die, our character will change for the better--but what if our death only fixes our character for eternity?

It's so important that we transform our thinking by renewing our minds (Romans 12:1-2) and realize that we are to be confomed to Jesus' image (2 Corinthians 3:18). Every choice, every intent, every action incrementally changes our character. What--or who do you want to look like--really?