Transformed Lives
<< How to live as a follower of JesusWhat about spiritual transformation?
People are like big old gumtrees. We see old gumtrees with dead bark hanging off. The bark is dead, but somewhere inside, the bark becomes attached and alive and part of the tree. If we pull on the bark it comes away, but there is a point where it is no longer dead, it rips and scars the tree. The life of the tree is within. As the tree is renewed from the inside, the bark forms and eventually falls off. If we pull bark off, we damage the tree where it is still attached. However if we wait for the renewal to occur, the old bark just falls off.
So it is with people. We can judge that others are not changing fast enough, and try to help by insisting on changes such as quitting smoking, or praying differently. However, we should wait, because when the time is ready God will do this. With the Holy Spirit within, old habits grow out and eventually fall off. If we force others, we hurt them and they may not come back. We are to love others, not judge them. Only judge yourself.
Spiritual transformation is instant when we accept Jesus. Physical transformation takes longer. God is a gardener (John 15) and guides the process.
When we become a new creation, does that mean the same as "a new person"?
No. We are not made into a new person, we are still ourselves.
When we give our lives to Jesus, God sees us as a finished product, perfect, sanctified, changed, recreated. He treats us like that - perfect. But we’re not perfect. We are in process. The Bible says to be renewed and transformed, and we need to take this seriously. We need to come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It takes time for us to become new.
- Quote: "Live life in such a way that the Preacher won’t have to lie at your funeral."
How can we be like an arrow hitting the target?
There is a story of the barn wall with several targets, all sporting bullseye shots. But they turned out not to be true targets. The shots were made first, and the targets painted up afterwards to make them appear perfect.
In contrast, God has real targets (purity, holiness, goodness) defined by his standards and rules. But we miss those targets when we break the rules. The good news is that God changes us from the inside out and helps us hit the target.
If we don’t go for God’s targets, and choose our own, we are just shooting holes in the barn.
How do we change?
The Holy Spirit in our life changes our heart and mind, so we are motivated to change our behaviour. We all have a past, failed and fallen, but God changes us, dusts us off, hugs us, and we go on. And the closer we get to God, and the more we yield to God, the easier it is to change!
Some people change overnight - smoking, drunkards, drug addicts healed. Some change over time. Some people go backwards too. The choice is free to walk with God or walk away.
For example, our pastor Patrick was transformed overnight upon becoming a Christian. Stealing, lying, swearing, alcohol, violence, all changed on 2/4/1977. God replaced evil desires with good ones. The change was very clear to his wife and to his workmates.
<< How to live as a follower of Jesus