by S.D. Bills

Created on: February 27, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Paul wrote to the Philippians, "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

I cannot help but conclude that Paul knew that his existence as a mortal man was not limited to only this world, but that he was on this earth in preparation to assume the very identity that God created him for...to become like the Creator, to become like God. I do not think this idea is so far-fetched or a heresy. In fact, I know this idea to be true.

In Genesis, it is clear that man and woman are created in the image of God. A prophet once said, "we are Gods in embryo". Are children born to stay children? No. Children grow to be like their parents, men and women. We do not train children to stay in diapers and to be ever dependent on their parents (at least, I hope most of us don't). We train and teach and rear children to become independent, thinking, productive, vibrant, talented men and women. Children grow to be like mom and dad. We grow to become like our Heavenly Father.

If we truly know that we are children of God, we, then, quite literally will become like our Father...knowing what he knows, doing what he does. That is the fulfillment of the measure of our creation as spirit children of God. He sent us to earth to experience mortality and to overcome the natural manliness in all of us. We do this through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. I't only through Christ that we can obtain godhood. We are here to seek truth and weed out the bad. We are here to find godly attributes and to make godliness a part of our lives.

As we are successful in gathering all the truth, light and goodness that life can possibly afford, we become more and more Christlike and Godlike. I have known many men and women who have turned their entire lives over to Christ, and hence, over to God. The Holy Ghost permeates their lives. They are wise. They are happy. They understand what joy truly is. They understand the importance and vitality of families and of righteous rearing of children. They are becoming like the Savior and like our Heavenly Father. They begin to understand all things.

Another prophet once said, "As man is, God once was; As God is, man may become." This, I know, is true.

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