What does a life look like when it has been truly transformed?
By Dean Collins
What does the life of a transformed person look like? Unfortunately, our temptation is to focus on the insignificant over what is foundational to real transformation. For instance, we might consider a new wardrobe, a relocation to a new city, or a different job as transformational. Such changes might be related to real transformation, but by themselves, they are flimsy substitutes for the transformation described in the New Testament.
A transformed man
The apostle Paul was a man transformed by the gospel. As you read through the book of Acts you see a picture of one whose life was changed. Paul’s life and mission were dramatically interrupted by a blinding light on the road to Damascus. His brief yet powerful conversation with Jesus resulted in a true 180-degree turnaround. Paul’s transformation resulted in a change of mission, a change of character, and a new, single purpose to tell everyone the good news of the gospel. From then on, he gave his life to calling everyone to no longer be conformed by the world but rather to be transformed by the renewed mind of Christ.
While waiting for Timothy and Silas to arrive in Athens, Paul, provoked by the Holy Spirit, observed that this city was filled with idols. Athens was the center of intellectual capital for the Roman Empire, yet Paul saw that the quest for more knowledge, along with new insights and philosophies, had created a culture of curiosity with no spiritual framework. Those in Athens, like many today, believed that man can and will be able to solve every problem and create a culture that is fair and best for all. But while God gave us amazing minds and calls us to use them for good, good is not good enough. God wants to transform our minds and hearts to reflect his will and advance his kingdom. Those in Athens got lost in being conformed to the culture of the world instead of being transformed by the gospel. Sadly, the same happens to us today.
A confused culture
In Athens, Paul looked around and saw carved and molded images that represented various ideologies. These ideologies became gods to the scholarly community of the Roman world. Paul did not pull away from those who sought life and hope from their misguided focus. Instead, he stepped into the discussion and presented Jesus as the one true source of life and hope. While not everyone believed Paul’s bold testimony about Jesus, he led many to believe in Jesus and to experience the power of the resurrection in their lives.
Our primary mission
What might happen if we took seriously that our primary mission as followers of Jesus is first to stop ourselves from the tendency to be conformed by cultural thought? What if we then were committed to renewing our focus on spiritual transformation through the daily and ongoing renewal of our minds and hearts? What might happen if instead of shying away from presenting Jesus to those around us, we simply shared the gospel of Jesus with others? Not everyone will believe, but we might discover that the love and grace of God in us would be just the thing God uses to advance his kingdom in our world.
Lord, today we seek to stop being conformed to the world. Transform our hearts and minds so that we might reflect your grace, mercy, and love to others by our deeds so that they might consider Jesus as we share our story of how he has forever transformed us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God's Word
Acts 9:17-22; 17:16-34; Romans 12:1-2 ESV
Photo by Jim Wilson on Unsplash
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