Blog post April 30, 2026

In the mid 1980s I bought a 1975 Volkswagen beetle. She wasn't much to look at, but I had high hopes for her. I took her home and gave her a bath and got out my wax. Little by little the dull luster became a brilliantly bright beautiful orange. People who had seen her before didn't even recognize her as the same car.

"Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!" Matthew 13:43

The "righteous"—those justified by faith—will experience a transformation, manifesting a radiant, divine brilliance similar to Jesus at the Transfiguration. The dull luster of this life transformed.... barely recognizable! Victory of believers over darkness and sin, shining in God's presence forever.

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. vs 41. This scene contrasts the fate of the wicked with the fate of God's children, marking the end of the age when God's children are fully recognized.

My VW Beetle was a beauty in my eyes but her shine was nothing compared to the shine we will one day have. It took the removal of all the dirt she had accumulated over the years to reveal what was there the whole time.

We are made in God's image and one day with all the dirt of this world removed we too will shine like we were meant to. I can't wait. Free from all that holds us back. All that masks the radiance of God. One day we will be like Him and shine like the sun. What an amazing hope. All made possible because the once radiant Son took on flesh for a period of time, hiding His radiance. But with the cloak of the flesh removed He shines as we too will one day shine. AMEN and AMEN!

Father what hope we have in a future glorified state. All the sin and scum accumulated in this life washed away! I sure am looking forward to that. My beautiful bride will be even more beautiful to behold. I can't wait to worship with her in heaven one day. Wow what a thought. Thank you in Jesus name. AMEN!