I like the word transform. It means to change or alter in form appearance or nature. It can be the change of only outward structure or looks, or can be used in describing a total metamorphosis such as a pollywog becoming a frog or a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. I recently transformed my Mom’s old chest of drawers she got when she was married in the 1940’s. I love the way it turned out! A bit of leftover paint found in the garage, some heavy sanding and distressing with a hammer, new drawer pulls and voila – a seemingly new piece of furniture!
Transformers. When they first came out, my oldest son was little and couldn’t get enough of this magical toy. He’d start with a robot and with a few adjustments it became an airplane! Innovative in its day and the thought that one toy could be two was attractive. However, there were only two choices, one or the other, to transform the figure. It changed in its appearance but was still the same toy.
I think back to who I was before God chose to reveal His truth in my heart. Talk about a transformation! It’s difficult if not impossible to see any similarity in the before and after of who I was and who I am now. My thoughts, my purpose, my entire character is so completely different. I seriously don’t even care about many of the things that seemed important to me then. How can this be? I’m certain this is not an alteration that is just ‘skin’ deep. It comes from within, from my very soul, I have been changed to be a child of God. How do I know I’m His child? He is teaching me to think like Him, care about the things He cares about, use the words that are acceptable to His character, spend my time in the things that are of value to His concern. Folks, this is not my doing, not my work, not my goodness! I didn’t wake up one morning and proclaim that I was going to change. I didn’t even see the problem or need for something different! I could never have pulled this off so perfectly, so completely. Only God can change a heart from within and reshape and repurpose it for His family!
So why am I writing this particular blog? To stimulate us all to remember to be thankful for the miraculous transformation that God has caused in His children’s lives! It’s truly remarkable, without explanation, but absolutely verifiable. Look within. Look at your life! How has your thinking changed, how is it so completely different from the world? What used to be important to you? Who’s been working in your life from the inside out? Where does this tremendous love for God come from? How do you even know to approach Him for Truth? There is only one explanation. He grabbed your heart and remolded it to beat for His glory! He didn’t ask for permission, He chose to do His work in you! Amazing! Transformation. Total metamorphosis.
Eph 1:3-6 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Eph 4:21-24 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Ps 100:3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; [We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
1Co 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
I do not believe there is a qualified rebuttal to these truths. There is no other plausible explanation for the difference between those who run after selfish ambitions and those who look heavenward to Someone and something greater. Do you know of anyone who is able to perform a complete heart and brain transplant and without any visible incision? Miraculous transformation! Much better and much less expensive than plastic surgery! Perfect.
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