Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV
The symbol of a butterfly is often used to demonstrate the transformation which is spoken of in Romans 12:2.
When was the last time you looked at a caterpillar and thought, “Wow, it is such a beautiful and graceful creature!”? Now I’m sure some may see the caterpillar as a beautiful creature, but most of us are more appreciative of the transformation into a butterfly.
Just like the butterfly, we must be transformed into new creatures. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17 if we are in Christ, we are a new creature. Old things have passed away and everything is new. This means we transform from our old sinful selves into these beautiful new creatures.
We become a new creature that abhors sin. We do all we can to avoid it. We want to imitate Christ (Ephesians 5:1). We strive to be the best we can be according to God’s holy word.
This transformation is not forced upon us as. We can choose to remain on the ground crawling around on our bellies. Or, we can choose to transform and become a beautiful creature that flies. God doesn’t force us to accept Him and He doesn’t force us to grow as Christians.
Do you consider yourself saved? If you died right this minute would you go to heaven or to hell? If you consider yourself saved, have you been transformed? If you haven’t been transformed, then you must ask yourself what have you been saved from?
Do you still do all the things you did before you accepted Christ as your Savior? Do you seek a church that conforms to the way you want to live your life? Or are you transformed and seeking a church that will help you grow by constantly renewing your mind by studying His word?
Often times we say we are saved or we say we love the Lord with all our heart, but only if we can continue to do things our way. This is not transformation. Transformation is giving up our old ways and doing things His way. There are many people and many churches who are doing things their way even though it is in contrast to God’s holy word.
I was guilty of this years ago. I wanted a church with convenient meeting times so as not to disrupt my weekend too much. I wanted a church that was okay with me drinking. I wanted a church that would let me do things my own way as long as I showed up every now and then and paid my tithe.
These churches are plentiful, but will they transform you? I think you know the answer to this one.
We are told in John 14:6 that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father except through Him. We are told in Matthew 7:13-14 that the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction and many will enter through it, but the road is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and few find it.
Will you be one of the few or will you take the easy route? Is this whole transformation thing just more than you signed up for? My friend, we must be transformed to get into heaven. This means being imitators of Christ. This means putting God first in all you do.
Jesus came to save us from our sins. If you are sinning, know there is salvation in Him that will transform you. You don’t have to go through this alone, but you must go through it.
Trust in Him today, He is the only way to get there. We are told in Matthew 7:21-23 that many people who believe they will get to heaven will be turned away. Jesus said He will say to them, “Depart from me I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness.”
Don’t conform to this world, no good comes from that. There is no salvation without transformation. Don’t keep crawling around on your belly. Be transformed and fly, become the beautiful creature God intends for you to be.
Have a great day!