WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRANSFORMATION?

My thought today comes from Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world:  but by ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God"

The question I have for today is WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRANSFORMATION?  Once we're saved there should be a change - a transformation that takes place in our lives.  Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Once we are saved we are brand new people!  A change takes place in our lives. We're not reformed, rehabilitated, reeducated - we're redeemed!  We are new creations!  It's not like we've made a New Year's resolution or we're turning over a new leaf, we have a new life under new management, if you will.  Jesus has taken control and made us new!  How awesome is that?

I do realize once we are saved we are in a growing process.  I also realize people grow at different rates and there is a potential even for a growth spurt in their spiritual lives.  In essence, we are a work in process in respect to our spiritual lives. I get that.  But transformation has happened and spiritual growth is still taking place.  

My observation, today, is that we sure do have a lot of worldly people professing to be Christians.  They mutter a few words and then they or someone else declares they are now Christians.  Their lives don't change.   Their actions and behavior remains the same.  Where's the new creation?  Where's the transformation?  Where's the repentance?  When one truly repents they make a complete turn around.  They don't do the things they once did.  They don't live the way they once lived.  They are changed!

You see, as Christians, we are called to "be not conformed to this world" with it's behavior and sinful ways.  We don't dabble in sin. We don't get caught up in worldly pleasures.  We are called to live right and do right.  But there's more to it than that even.  We are to "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Again, this is a change.  It's a transformation of our thought process.  We can live our lives avoiding most of the worldly things that Christians ought to avoid, but still have issues with pride, self-centeredness, stubbornness and even rebellion.  Our minds need to be transformed.  Our minds - thought processes - need to be renewed.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives to renew our minds.  The Holy Spirit will do a great work in the life of the Christian if we allow Him to work.  What He does is up to us.  It's only after the Holy Spirit does His work in us that we are truly transformed.

Does this mean we are perfect?  No, we're saved.  We're a new creation in Jesus.  We are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This transformation takes place in our lives so that others will see the difference and potentially be brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus themselves.  You see it's a witness to others of what God has done in our lives.  This transformation also takes place so that we can live a holy life.  God doesn't expect us to live like we used to live.  His desire is that we live a life free from sin.  If we stumble along the way, God has made provision for us to receive forgiveness once we confess our sin (1 John 1:9).  But make no mistake about it, God wants us living transformed, changed lives for Him. 

If you are a professing Christian today but your life hasn't been changed or transformed I would suggest you pray and get a hold of God and truly confess your sins and repent of them, turning your back on them.  Let God do His work in you and make make you a new creation in Jesus.  Then allow the Holy Spirit to do work in your life and transform you into what God would have you be.

Let's work 'til Jesus comes!  It might just be today!

Until next time, let's enjoy the journey!

Ray