08/08/2021
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior It is only natural for us to want to add who He is to who we are, and not lose a single part of ourselves, but when we change, it always demands that something be left behind. Each time we experience change in our lives we become new creatures in certain ways. Our faith is one of the biggest agents of change we will ever experience. For those who know Christ I ask you to look back at who you were before you started your journey with Jesus, and witness to others about His amazing transformative power in your life. Then focus on today, and tell them how you have been changed since yesterday… speak of the man you fed lunch to a few hours ago, the person you clothed, the moment of enlightenment in last night’s prayer. The joy you woke up with this morning. Tell them that they will lose a part of themselves, but that they will be made new each day.
“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.”
Matthew 17:2-3 ESV
God changes people, events, and the world. All through the Bible, we read of Him changing the landscape of life, and each time that He did so, something was gained, but something else was lost… His perfect Will was done, and some imperfect part of the will of man was lost. Saul had to give up much in his transformation into Paul the Apostle. He gave up his firm belief that killing Christians served God, and he became Christian himself. Listen to who he was at the stoning of Stephen…
“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:58-60 ESV
Now listen to who he had become after years of change…
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
Galatians 5:1, 13-14 ESV
Saul was lost but Paul was found in the change that occurred when Jesus came to him, and knocked him down.
Change is often difficult and painful. Satan tempts us by promising us happiness, power, and such, and by asking if we are willing to suffer as we change who we are by believing in Jesus, he tempts us to believe that we could remain unchanged in life, but that is just another lie. Sin changes people just like God’s love will change them, but the consequences are great when sin does the changing. Whatever good the old person had is lost as they pay the price for the momentary pleasure as sin changes us into a lost soul.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 ESV
So many people will walk away from Jesus because they hold too tightly to who they are at that moment. For them the change is viewed not as gain, but as a price they must pay… and the price may be viewed to be too great, or their current pleasure to valuable your relinquish.
“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Matthew 19:21-22 ESV
We might look at our belief in Christ and say that at the moment we believed we gave ourselves to Him, “I have given Him my life. and my love for Him will never change.”, but every day we face a new challenge, new change, and a greater love; we are giving up another piece of who we are now to become this new person of greater faith, deeper love, and are becoming a more perfect image of Christ.
Being transformed into the image of Christ is not an event, it is a process. Jesus was a baby, a toddler, a child, an adolescent, a young man, a mature man, a teacher, a preacher, a healer, and so many other things as He grew on earth to be more godlike during His life, and each new moment of change meant leaving some part of who he was behind. In this way He teaches us about our faith, and it’s ever changing nature. Quite often what we lose in the exchange is not bad, or sinful. We lose one good thing to gain an even greater good. Jesus left behind His ministry to offer Himself for us, and to the eyes of those unbelieving witnesses it seemed tragic…
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
So are we ready to lose ourselves as we change into the image of Jesus, and perfect ourselves before God? What is the number on the price tag of our faith that would make paying it unbearable, or make us walk away from it? Let’s resolve ourselves to the fact that we will always view the price of our spiritual change to be worth the loss each time the Lord transforms us.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the transformative power of change in our lives, and how amazingly positive it is as we walk the way of righteousness with you. Help us Father to see our error in placing too great a value on the earthly things you have given us, and how that tight grip on the “now”, can cause us to lose sight of your increase in our faithfulness “tomorrow”. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who asks us to lay down our life, as we know it to be, so that we can receive a life in you of far greater value. Praised be your name for the constant change that transforms us moment by moment, day by day, and year by year, into a more perfect follower of Christ, and into a deeper love for you. Merciful are you Lord, and great is your patience as you walk us through the changes in our lives. You are long suffering as you wait for us to let go of the earthly things we value so much, in order to make room in ourselves for the heavenly gifts that await us. Wash us clean of our sin with the blood of Jesus, and transform us with this same blood that He gave up for us, so that we might love you more and resemble your image more perfectly. Seat us at your eternal table Father, and continue to transform us throughout eternity, giving and taking in the exchange of our carnal nature and selves, for your righteousness, and holiness.
Rich Forbes