Romans 12:2
Such is life in the hands of the Transformer. It is hard to believe what it was before!
The pressure is continually increasing to blend in, to look just like, to fit the mold. Living on the isle of Crete would have been rather simple, IF the gospel had not arrested the heart. Spinning the facts to position oneself to the greatest personal advantage. Ignoring super-imposed rules and guidelines because the full expression of “self” promised more immediate gratification. Getting “fat” with minimum personal exertion. “Do not be conformed to the world,” was the Apostle’s warning label. It would be rather simple to live like those around, IF the gospel had not arrested your heart.
But being Christian in Crete was not that simple. Every “natural”, reflexive response to small and large challenges must be retrained. Being Christian in Crete makes you conspicuous, different, intriguing, confusing, bothersome, discomforting, convicting. When self-willed and self-serving stubbornness would be the “natural” response, they would see humility and submission. When a harsh emotional retort would be the standard behavior, they would instead see reasonableness and agreeability. When bingeing out on self-gratification was the rule of the day, self-sacrificing kindness and unapplauded love would steal the light.
Being Christian in Crete would be enormously counter-cultural. And that is exactly God’s strategy for radical life changes. To work so powerfully on the inside of those He would rescue from their bondage to their sin, that no one within their sphere of influence could fail to notice. It would be difficult to imagine what they once had been because of the transformation into what He had caused them to become. And the serious observer, seeing the amazing difference the gospel makes in the life of a rescued sinner, would have to ask, “Can you explain to me how this can be?”
Being Christian in Lincoln, Nebraska is not markedly simpler. For, we too, feel the pressure to deceive in order to prosper, to throw off moral restraint in order to experience short-term pleasures, and to get the most we can for ourselves by doing the least we have to do for others. The pressure is continually increasing to blend in, to look just like, to fit the mold. But if the gospel has arrested our hearts, those within our sphere of influence will be moved to ask, “Can you explain to me how this can be?”
Such is life in the hands of the Transformer. It is hard to believe what it was before!
“Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience…” 1 Peter 3:14-15
Such is a life in the hands of THE Transformer. It is hard to believe what it was before!
See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom
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