Not of This World

I appreciate the perspective and insight of G.K. Chesterton who masterfully communicated in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying way how mankind's existence reveals the reality of a God Who created man and everything else.  In response to cave paintings Chesterton claimed, "Art is the signature of man" and if this is true, then mankind is indeed the signature of God who created artists of every kind.  The biblical account of Genesis says God created mankind unique from all other creatures in His own image, and thus accounts for the vast difference between people and animals.  Chesterton wrote:

"The simplest truth about man is that he is a very strange being; almost in the sense of being a stranger on the earth.  In all sobriety, he has much more of the external appearance of one bringing alien habits from another land than of a mere growth of this one.  He has an unfair advantage and an unfair disadvantage.  He cannot sleep in his own skin; he cannot trust his own instincts.  He is at once a creator moving miraculous hands and fingers and a kind of cripple.  He is wrapped in artificial bandages called clothes; he is propped on artificial crutches called furniture.  His mind has the same doubtful liberties and the same wild limitations.  Alone among the animals, he is shaken with the beautiful madness called laughter; as if he had caught sight of some secret in the very shape of the universe hidden from the universe itself.  Alone among the animals he feels the need of averting his thought from the root realities of his own bodily being; of hiding them as in the presence of some higher possibility which creates the mystery of shame.  Whether we praise these things as natural to man or abuse them as artificial in nature, they remain in the same sense unique.  This is realised by the whole popular instinct called religion...It is not natural to see man as a natural product.  It is not common sense to call man a common object of the country or the seashore.  It is not seeing straight to see him as an animal.  It is not sane.  It is a sin against the light; against the broad daylight of proportion which is the principle of all reality.  It is reached by stretching a point, by making a case, by artificially selecting a certain light and shade, by bringing into prominence the lesser or lower things which may happen to be similar.  The solid thing standing in the sunlight, the thing we can walk round and see from all sides, is quite different.  It is also quite extraordinary; and the more sides we see of it the more extraordinary it seems.  It is emphatically not a thing that follows or flows naturally from anything else." (Chesterton, G. K. (2008). The everlasting man. Ignatius Press. pages 36-37)

Man is not an accident, product of nature or a social construct:  people male and female have been created in the image of the almighty God, people who are more than bodies but possess an eternal soul.  There is a sense of morality and duty borne from a conscience, an individual will we submit to God as Master or shall master us.  Man alone has senses animals cannot understand or express:  indignation based upon morality, judgment according to wisdom, desire for intimacy and honesty, modes of communication and expression, to appreciate kind words and gratitude, the horror of sin and the delight of forgiveness.  I was once told by a pastor, "People are weird and life isn't fair."  This is true for we are indeed strange, unique beings all created and sustained by the grace of God.  Compared to animals in nature man is unique, and compared to all other people Jesus is even more unique--truly not of this world.

Praise God for His power to create, redeem and save!  On our own we would have all remained like beasts before God clawing for scraps in the dark, but glory to God as Zecharias prophesied of Jesus Christ who brings knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of sins in Luke 1:78-78:  "...Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; ⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  The God who said, "Let there be light" and there was light is the God who has revealed Himself to us in the person of Jesus, the One who alone gives rest for our souls.  Without God revealing this to us, we wouldn't have known we had souls or that rest is needed or possible!  What riches of knowledge, grace, forgiveness and love are freely provided for all who are born again through the Gospel:  in the world but not of the world, now eternal citizens of heaven by grace.

Keep Being Transformed

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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."

Romans 12:1-2

God can do what no one else can:  change us and keep changing us for good.  These verses provided an "Aha!" moment for me as I considered how God transforms us when we are born again and our need to continue to be transformed.  When I was a kid, "Transformers" were a very cool toy marketed as "Robots in Disguise."  What appeared to be a tank, truck or car could be "transformed" into a formidable robot.  It fits the definition of transformation of a marked change, but Optimus Prime and Bumblebee were simply wearing clever disguises.  They were really extraterrestrial robots that could take the shape of a vehicle to blend in among others until the villainous Decepticons showed up.  This is not what the Bible means when it says "Be transformed," but it has possibly impacted the way we define the phrase.  It can lead to a mistaken idea that we are transformed at conversion from death to life, from being dead in sins to being alive to God--and that there is no additional transformation necessary or possible.

This passage and the testimony of scripture hold forth a totally different reality.  The word "transform" in the Greek is what our word "metamorphosis" comes from.  There are a handful of animals that go through metamorphosis, and this is a complete change inside and out from a swimming tadpole with gills to a leaping frog that breathes air or the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a moth or butterfly.  Amazingly, while we are justified at conversion there remains an opportunity and responsibility for the child of God who has presented themselves to God to daily be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  We have all seen people change for the better or worse because of trials, pains, addictions and sin.  Our bodies change as we age; our minds and perspectives can also be shaped by our experiences.  We can truthfully say, "I will never be the same" in a positive or negative sense due to what has happened to us:  followers of Jesus Christ can say this because we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds.  "Be ye transformed" is in the present, passive imperative tense, a command for all believers.

Humans are naturally resistant against humbling ourselves when we are in the right, and we hate to admit we have been wrong.  Having been born again by the Holy Spirit, we are given divine insight of our need to keep changing our thoughts and actions to align with Him.  We have gone from living in the dark to seeing ourselves in truth.  A common and immature response to this illumination is to use our knowledge to point out what is wrong with others or even the church, in pride ignoring completely our need to continue to be transformed and be aligned ourselves in practice with the perfect will of God.  God has changed us from who we used to be but it doesn't follow we are now fully who He desires we be.  The spiritual exercises of prayer, humbly reading and receiving God's word in faith, being in fellowship with other believers and receiving correction work to keep transforming us more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

If we needed to pass from death to life through the Gospel received by faith in Jesus Christ, if we needed to repent of our sins to be forgiven and have fellowship with God, then we need to continue being transformed by the renewing of our mind.  Christians have been sanctified by God, separated from unbelievers as a precious inheritance for Himself.  For every Christian today who lives on earth there is a time in the future when we will be wholly sanctified in the presence of God in eternal glory.  But in the meantime we are to keep being transformed by the renewing of our minds, choosing to be sanctified for our Master's use.  The use of "transformed" in Romans 12:2 and transfiguration of Jesus are the only time metamorphoo is used in the Bible, for all other uses of "transformed" in scripture refer to the devil or his ministers who merely disguise themselves as righteous.  Instead of disguising our faults to hide them or using grace as a cloak for sin, we ought to be those who continue to be transformed, changed from within by faith and obedience to Jesus who is altogether glorious.  Having been transformed, we are to keep being transformed daily as we present ourselves to Jesus to do His will.

Our Bountiful Refuge

The heading of my Bible of Psalm 142 attributes it to David with this description:  "A prayer when he was in the cave."  When King Saul's murderous intentions were revealed through his pursuit of David and the killing of the priests at Nob, David was forced into hiding.  It seemed wherever he turned his whereabouts were reported to Saul who was never far behind.  Though David had hundreds of men who followed him, they were nothing compared to the thousands of mighty men that attended King Saul.  Even in the cave it was evident his trust remained steadfast in God who was his true refuge.

Psalm 142:4-5 reads, "Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. ⁵ I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."  David felt alone in his troubles, but he knew he was not alone.  In the dark recesses of the cave David hid from the sight of Saul, yet his eyes were fixed on God in whom David sought refuge by faith and reliance upon Him.  Perhaps out of fear of retribution people did not acknowledge how David had been wrongly persecuted, yet David was convinced God was his portion to receive and cling to.  What a great example this is of the necessity for those who trust in God to continue steadfastly by faith in God even when all seems against us.

William Gurnall provided insights to this end in Christian in Complete Armour, how courage and resolution is required for God's people to wrestle with and overcome difficulties God allows:

"All Israel came joyfully out of Egypt under Moses' conduct, yea, and a mixed multitude with them, but when their bellies were a little pinched with hunger, and their greedy desires of a present Canaan deferred, yea, instead of peace and plenty, war and penury, they, like white-livered soldiers, are ready to fly from their colours, and make a dishonourable retreat into Egypt.  The greatest part of those who profess the gospel, when they come to push of pike, to be tried what they will do, deny to endure for Christ, grow sick of their enterprise.  Alas!  Their hearts fail them, they are like the waters of Bethlehem.  But if they must dispute their passage with so many enemies, they will even content themselves with their own cistern, and leave heaven to others that will venture more for it.  O how many part with Christ at this cross-way!  Like Orpah, they go a furlong or two with Christ, while he goes to take them off from their worldly hopes, and bids them prepare for hardship, and then they fairly kiss and leave him, loath indeed to lose heaven, but more loath to buy it at so dear a rate." (Gurnall, William. The Christian in Complete Armour. Banner of Truth Trust, 2002.

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See the confidence of David to see the light and goodness of God in the land of the living, for he cried out to the God he knew heard and would answer in the affirmative.  David concluded his prayer in Psalm 142:7, "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."  God was mightier than David's own flesh, the wicked men who urged him to slay king Saul in the name of the LORD or all the enemies that surrounded him to destroy him.  No one on earth cared for David's soul, but God was a praiseworthy Saviour who would deal bountifully with David.  With God as his portion David had more than he could receive or fully appreciate, so great is the power and love of God towards those who fear and trust Him.

Jesus assured His disciples in this world we will have tribulation, but He also commanded them to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world.  Jesus is our refuge who has delivered us from the prison of sin and death, and His righteousness has been imputed to us.  Let us praise His holy name, for He has dealt bountifully with us--and always will.

Transformation, not Modification

As people we make an effort to present ourselves well when we stand to benefit.  A prospective employee ensures they look fit for the role when attending a job interview, and before a first date people want to look and smell their best.  Before going to a high tea, wedding or funeral we wear attire appropriate for the occasion.  When I worked in construction I was always amazed by the uniform transformation during the annual Christmas party of men who usually wore jeans and cotton shirts besotted with mastic to wearing custom suits and silk ties.  With wives and partners coming along the language cleaned up dramatically as well.  For a night we could have fooled some we were actually a civilised and well-mannered crew.  Go into the shop on Monday morning, however, and a completely different side of the boys would be revealed.

It is likely this same hypocrisy exists at some level in various areas in the lives of every person.  From our childhood we have learned what is acceptable social behaviour and what constitutes good manners.  We learn how to avoid stirring up trouble for ourselves by foul language or physical violence.  Because parents and teachers cannot change the heart or mind of others by force, they taught us to clean up our act with negative consequences and positive reinforcement.  While this may or not be true for every case, these very general statements merely make the point we have learned from family, authority figures, and society to navigate according to our will and conscience for our benefit.  While our speech, dress and behaviour provides a small glimpse of our hearts, it represents only a small aspect of us as people.

When I worked as a youth pastor, it first dawned on me that when I met with kids for counselling or teaching that I was seeing them at their best.  Their behaviour wasn't perfect, but they wanted to put their best foot forward.  I have observed people can be very good at saying what they think you or others want to hear.  I was convicted after classifying my own sinful conduct as "a moment of weakness" when God revealed to me that was actually the reality of my flesh--without the veneer of good manners or being polite--shining through in truth.  Today it occurred to me that at our worst it still would not reveal the full range of the wickedness of our hearts because God has imposed strict limits to our bodies.  Imagine if a raging toddler had the strength of Superman!  The world would not be safe!  If man was endowed with the ability to express his own sinfulness to the full, it would mean the destruction of that person and all others.  This is why we must be born again to have transformed hearts and minds, for behaviour modification falls woefully short of God's righteousness.

Paul wrote this in Romans 7:22-8:1:  "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. ¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  Praise God by grace through faith delivers us from the wretchedness of our sinful flesh.  God is merciful to put in us the will to do what pleases Him.  Those who are in Christ are free from the bondage to sin and the condemnation of the Law.  How good it is to own our sin so we might walk in the freedom and joy of the new life provided us by Jesus.  When our eyes are opened to God's goodness we see our sinfulness; when we are willing to confess and repent of our sin and wretchedness we are divinely enabled to walk in victory:  not because we are now good but because God always is and will be.