The forty-second chapter of the Book of Isaiah tells us the characteristics of the Servant of the Lord. Each of these characteristics without exception must be true of each member of the Body. When these characteristics are not true of us we are not qualified to return with Jesus Christ, to appear with Him.

When will these characteristics be true of us? When we are willing to cooperate with the Spirit as He transforms us into the image of Christ.

Are we transformed into Christ's image automatically when we die? No. There is no passage of Scripture that presents physical death as the redeemer of the human personality. No change in us occurs because we have died physically.

Will we be transformed into the image of Christ when He appears? Only in our outward form. There is no passage of Scripture that tells us we will be transformed in our moral nature by the coming of the Lord. Rather it is true that what we have become during our discipleship will be revealed when the Lord appears.

The Lord's servant that buried his talent was not made diligent by the coming of the Lord. Instead he was thrown into the outer darkness.

The only way in which we can be transformed into the image of the Lord is by cooperating with the Holy Spirit each day as He guides us into moral transformation.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2—NIV)

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:18—NIV)

"Transformed into his likeness"!

This transformation takes place on the earth. Even the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God from the beginning, learned obedience on the earth.

Perhaps the most important lesson we learn while on the earth is obedience to God. If we are to be part of the Body of Christ, the Servant of the Lord, and bring justice to the saved nations, we must be totally obedient to Christ.

When we return with Jesus we shall be kings. We shall have very great authority and power over the earth and its peoples. If there is any injustice in us we cannot possibly bring justice to the nations. At that time we shall see numerous opportunities to exalt ourselves, just as Satan did when he was an exalted cherub appointed to guard the Throne of God. If we are not totally obedient to Christ we will bring chaos into Paradise.

Our role as members of the royal priesthood will be to drive all that is of Satan from the earth, and then to bring to people all that is of Jesus Christ. If we ourselves are not totally faithful, totally obedient to Jesus Christ, we will bring chaos into Paradise! Can you see why this is true?

To be continued.