“For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” ~Romans 8:29

“For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” ~Romans 8:29

‘Foreknew’ - to know before. I think we can all agree that God knew everyone and everything that ever was, is and will be.

‘Predestined’ - pre-determined. To know the destiny before it happens. God lives outside of time. He created time, so all things are present to Him. Therefore, everything that happens to anyone at anytime is already known to Him.

‘Conformed' - to be similar or identical to in form or image. ‘Con’ as a prefix means ‘with’ or ‘together’.

This reveals something wonderful. Something absolutely magnificent. We were all created to be in the image of The Son, Jesus Christ. But more than that, Jesus has told us that, “if you see Me, you see the Father” [John 14:9]. So we are also made in the image of God.

Well, why should that surprise us? God let us be a fly on the wall at the creation roundtable. We heard Him say, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” [Genesis 1:26]

The resurrection of Jesus made Him the firstborn of the new creation, freed from sin. There will be a day, one glorious day, when all will be made alive in Him. “As in Adam, all have died, so in Christ, all will be made alive.” [1 Corinthians 15:22]

For now, we wait. We wait for this day. Father, let us behave like the sons and daughters You have created us to be. Let us be light to those still in darkness, so that all may know and experience Your unrelenting love. Amen

Written by: Bonnie Chovanec, 2026