Our amazing and mysterious “sweet-society God” is the only divine Being in all the cosmos. He’s the God who through the centuries – indeed, through eternity – has joyfully collaborated within his own triune being. Self-existent and self-sustaining, nothing is missing. Nothing lacks. No “missing parts.” In fact, perfect completeness finds its actual definition in God. The triune Father and Son and Spirit relish one another’s presence, taking extravagant delight each toward the other. God requires nothing beyond himself to be.
Yet, astonishing as it may be, God has chosen to insist on bringing along others (we, his own image-bearers brought into existence by himself) into this glorious mix. That he mingle and play and collaborate with us in the grand enterprise of bringing about our ever-progressing internal and external transformation for the good. (What higher good for a family of humans could there be, than to become a close reflection of Jesus the beloved Son?)
Meanwhile, partnering with God involves more than merely being together in the same room. The road to spiritual transformation is one of training. The father’s aim? Our joyful, flourishing growth into the best version of ourselves, as we were created to become.
Philosophy professor Willard himself modeled well what it means to progress over time into a kind of person who might naturally and routinely exhibit much of the nature of the Lord Jesus. Willard, ever a trainee himself and no stranger to challenges of his own along the way, subscribed, with a robust yet warm-hearted tenacity, to a conviction. A truth grounded in Scripture and advanced among apprentices to Jesus across the centuries: “A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do.”
This kind of conviction calls for embarking on a rigorous, adventurous (and as it commonly turns out, utterly satisfying) journey into training.
Among the more weighty (and worthy) thoughts for any image- bearer to ponder may be the following – also penned by the esteemed USC professor Dr. Willard.
“The most important thing in your life is not what you do; it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity.”*
*Dallas Willard, dwillard.org — ©2025 Jerry Lout Writer/Speaker Jerry Lout grew up in Okmulgee County. Jerry’s “Living with a Limp” and “Giants in the Rough” are available through Amazon. Current projects include “Inside-Out” and “Thresholds” – a string of narratives highlighting surprises, sorrows and adventure in the post-Africa years. Jerry welcomes reader comments at jerrylout@gmail.com and 918857-4373.
