Fifty years ago a plastic surgeon, Dr Maxwell Maltz, observed the changes that occurred in the attitude and success of his patients following successful reconstruction or cosmetic plastic surgery. However, he noted that with  a number of his patients no change whatsoever seemed to occur, whilst others undergoing the exact same procedure were completely transformed. After many careful case studies, Dr Maltz concluded that it was not the picture or image that was reflected in a mirror of a person’s exterior features that determined their attitude and success; rather it was the picture or image that a person held of themselves internally - in their heart and mind - that made them who they were, and determined who they would be.

As a result of this discovery Dr Maltz resigned his practice as a plastic surgeon in order to qualify as a psychologist; and then pursue that practice assured that he would be able to help many more people transform their lives and attain their goals by way of internal change. In his book (Psycho-cybernetics, first published by Prentice-Hall in 1960), Dr Maltz illustrated the human creation as a guided missile. To reach it’s goal a missile is first programmed with an “image” of it’s target, and then continually adjusts its course, avoiding obstacles and correcting its route if knocked off course, with reference to the “image” it holds inside. The missile is literally “seeking” until its target is reached.

As I have reflected on this I realised how the Bible continually speaks of us as ‘seekers’ … we are to seek God (Isaiah 55:6), seek his kingdom (Matthew 6:33), seek those things that are above (Colossians 3:1), and so on. David wrote “One thing I have desired … that will I seek after” (Psalm 27:4) , and Paul declared “One thing I do … I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God” (Philippians 3:13). It seems that we have been created somewhat like the guided missile, with an ability to seek a thing. And like the guided missile, our success will be determined by the pictures and images we program into our heart and mind. We will pursue the things we hold true and dear on the inside, avoiding obstacles and correcting our route if knocked off course.

The Bible is full of “pictures” of the person we can be and the amazing destiny God holds out to us. It describes redeemed human beings reigning with Christ in his throne (2 Timothy 2:12), filled with the glory of God (Ephesians 2:22), and enjoying intimacy and friendship with the Lord (John 15:15). No wonder we are continually exhorted to fill our hearts and minds with the Word of God - to program the “seeker” (Colossians 3:16). The outcome is not guaranteed the lazy believer!

To reign with Christ in the glory of heaven’s throne room is promised to “those who overcome” (Revelation 3:21); read on through the chapter break and what Jesus promises in chapter three of The Revelation is envisaged in chapter four (Revelation 4:4) - human beings enthroned in God’s glory-filled throne room. Move to chapter five and these people are singing this confession “You … have redeemed us … out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). (NB: the four living creatures and the twenty four elders are all the redeemed who overcome and reign with Christ. They are out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, of which there are considerably more than twenty eight on the earth! This will be millions, not just twenty eight individuals - the numbers 4 and 12 being symbolic of world-wide authority. These are principles of success (i.e. achieving goals) that can be applied in the different arenas of ones life: believe the promise / envisage yourself in it / profess the certainty of it. But in matters of God’s great desires for our lives there’s an added dimension - the work of the Holy Spirit; when we “behold with open face the glory of the Lord” the progressive transformation that occurs is “by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:16).

What an incredible destiny! But as the message to the Laodiceans teaches us, a believer can forfeit such wonder if they fail to overcome luke warmness (Revelation 3:16), self-sufficiency (Revelation 3:17), and do not open up to Christ who seeks an intimate relationship with his own (Revelation 3:20). These are the three things that attempt to stand as obstacles to this seeker hitting the target - “the upward call of God”. However, like the guided missile, if God’s amazing picture/description of the person I can be and the promises that can be eternally mine dwells richly in my heart, then those obstacles will never be enough to knock me off course. The exercise of God’s authority through my life will increase, and I’ll be there on that day of days that John saw in the Spirit.