Be Transformed

The Gospel can do what nothing else in the world can:  it transforms us inside and out.  By faith in Jesus Christ, a sinner is saved and born again by the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers us to do God's will.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Knowing facts, philosophy or even theology cannot save a person from death and hell, but Jesus can.  To people saved by grace through faith in Jesus Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  It is only through the Gospel we can pass from death to life and be transformed today and every day.

The word for "transformed" is the Greek word from which we use for "metamorphosis."  This is a change of form and structure by an amazing process that takes place inside a chrysalis where the body of the caterpillar is dissolved and a new body forms and emerges with completely different behaviour, characteristics and diet.  In its larval form a caterpillar crawls around and eats leaves, and after shedding the chrysalis a butterfly has wings, antennae, eyes, mouth and genitals.  Butterflies do not eat leaves but drink nectar, a wonder of God's handiwork and incredible design.  Each cell is "programmed" to be digested at the perfect time to make the complete transformation possible, fueling imaginal discs to form a new, far more complex creature.  This is the finger of God, for only He can bring life out of death.

A caterpillar changes to a butterfly or moth by instinct designed by God, and people are born again by a conscious choice to repent of sin and trust in Jesus as Saviour.  At the moment of conversion we are born again and given spiritual life, yet we can continue to think and live as we did previously.  Thus Paul exhorted believers to "be transformed," suggesting that as we came to Jesus by faith voluntarily, we are also to choose to live by faith marked by obedience to God, freely choosing to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God willingly.  Having been made new creations by the power of the Gospel, our lives ought to reflect that inner, spiritual change that has occurred by the renewing of our mind.  Inspired by the wisdom of God's word and fellowship with other Christians, as we feed on God's word, think about it, and make changes to put it into practice, our lives will reflect this miraculous change God does and continues through our lives.

I have heard this testimony many times, that people came to faith in Jesus Christ because their spouse or a friend totally changed for the better by finding Jesus--who was seeking to save them and calling them all along.  It is curious to people in the world when lifelong addictions are broken, pride is dissolved by humility, and raging violence in a person is quashed with genuine love by simple faith in Jesus.  People who are not readers by nature suddenly are reading the Bible, understanding it and following it.  God revealed His word sustained His people more than the manna they ate in Deuteronomy 8:3:  "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."  Countless hungry souls have found transformation, satisfaction and rest in Christ who is wisdom for us.

Praise the LORD for the His transforming power provided by His Gospel of grace.  Today is the day of salvation and the day for transformation as well!  Blessed is the man who seeks God and does His will, one who chooses to live like the new creation God has made us to be in Christ.