Most of us have churn in our lives. To many Christians, “peace that passes all understanding” is buried way in our past with only a feint memory of the experience. As a non-Christian, you may have seen a Christian walk out his/her faith and recognize that it is a life that you want. In either case, you choose what you want for your life.
Being transformed in Jesus Christ is amazing. Actually, it is a simple process that occurs as soon as a person decides to invite or welcome Jesus into their heart as their personal Lord and Savior. Immediately, they are transformed or as it is described in John 3, spiritually “born again”. At the very moment of conversion (the process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another), you receive all the eternal life that you will ever receive. Three powerful verses explain the metamorphosis experience of becoming a Christian:
- 2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. To be a Christ-follower, you must recognize that it is not your righteousness but God’s righteousness.
- Ephesians 2:8&9 explains that we can’t work to earn or merit this righteousness, “For, by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” A gift is not worth anything to a person until it is received.
- A beautiful depiction of transformation is recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
- What does the experience mean in terms of quality of life? Jesus states in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Whether you are a non-Christian or a Christian who is no longer faithful, you have a choice:
- “Now the works of the flesh (self-centered life) are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, divisions, drunkenness, orgies.” (Galatians 5:19-21). Or, choose…
- “The fruit of the Spirit (transformed life) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-24).
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20. This my friend is BEING TRANSFORMED!
“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).
Barnabas Man 