And we all . . . are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
A sleek luxury car glides around hairpin turns. Skiers speed through sunlit powder. Majestic mountain peaks loom in the background on product packaging. Sleek, stylized images of mountains—just a couple of lines drawn at the proper angle—can represent a particular food brand or clothing line. Some products are even named for a particular peak. Advertisers understand the various ways the mountains appeal to us: adventure, stability, the purity of nature. Food, beverage, and clothing companies have all made use of mountains, as have banks and insurance agencies.
Do these products really have anything to do with the mountains they evoke? Maybe. Maybe not. Do the people who buy those products really hike or ski or climb—whatever the implied activity is? Probably some do, but many don’t. There’s nothing wrong with that in the realm of sales and branding. As long as the ads and logos are recognizable and appeal to consumers, they are considered a success. But God operates a bit differently.
God is exactly who He says He is. He reveals Himself to us through Scripture, in Jesus’ life here on earth, and by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our day-to-day lives. In John 15, Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. . . . I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (vv. 1–2, 5).
When we follow Jesus, it’s not just a label or a logo. He transforms us from the inside out. As we walk with Him, we become more and more like Him, and our life shows it!