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Is Change Possible? |
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Is Change Possible?
Are you struggling with a long-term issue, perhaps an eating disorder or an
addiction to gambling, alcohol, or pornography?
Take heart, friend, and read on. While secular philosophers and psychologists debate whether or not human
beings are capable of change, Christians can be certain that change is, indeed,
possible. You see, the heart of
Christianity lies upon the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. Just as, by the power of the Holy
Spirit, God brought Jesus from death to life, from darkness to light, so too can
He transform us.
Salvation is immediate; when we receive Christ, His Spirit dwells within us,
and we are granted a new beginning in Him.
Transformation, on the other hand, is a process: one of Bible study,
prayer, fellowship, forsaking our former sins and replacing them with godly
habits; ultimately, these principles lead us to growth and maturity.
Cultivating a growing relationship with the Lord requires that we know Him; studying His Word is our means of knowing Him. When we refuse to be conformed to the
standards of this world, but instead allow God’s Word to penetrate and
transform our minds, we may know His will in any given situation. Several examples – of thousands –
follow. The world’s standard is, “I’m going to say whatever I feel.” God’s Word says, “A fool vents all
his feelings, But a wise man holds them back” (Proverbs 29:11) and “In the
multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise”
(Proverbs 10:19). The world’s
standard is, “I need to follow my heart,” but God’s Word says, “He who
trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered”
(Proverbs 28:26). The world’s
standard is liberation from laws, rules, correction, and instruction. God’s Word says, “My son, hear the
instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; For they
will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains upon your neck” (Proverbs
1:8-9); “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses
correction goes astray” (Proverbs 10:17); and “Whoever loves instruction
loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1). Simply stated, the principle for godly transformation is “forsake and
replace”. We must deliberately
forsake the standards of the world and replace them with Scriptural, godly
standards. Often, this principle is
far more difficult than it may seem. I
wasn’t saved until I was 22 years old; for 22 years, then, I had lived by the
world’s knowledge and standards, and God’s ways were completely unfamiliar
to me. Forsaking my familiar
standards required deliberate, ongoing effort; replacing them with God’s
standards, even more so. But
through this process of “forsaking and replacing”, God ultimately led me to
freedom and intimacy in relationship with Him.
Essentially, God effected change. Imagine witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You hear the sound of the hammer,
pounding upon the nails, which penetrate His perfect skin and ultimately sink
deeper, deeper, and finally deep into the wooden cross itself. The cross, now bearing Jesus, is lifted
off the ground and firmly planted in the midst of two criminals facing
execution. You’re surrounded by
others in the crowd, some of whom are mocking Him; some of whom had loved and
followed Him and are already grieving for His soon-to-be-extinguished life. You witness His hours of agony and
inevitably, His final cry, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit”
(Luke 23:46). Just to be certain of
His death, His enemies pierce His side with a sword. They don’t simply prick His side; they stab through vital
organs – the swords’ length, in fact, draining the blood of Jesus, which
pours upon the ground. It’s
hopeless; He’s gone, and soon, preparations to bury Him begin. His body is wrapped in linen and laid to
rest. For three days, those who loved Him most bear the heavy
burden of grieving. Throughout the
land, you can hear the sound of sobbing, perhaps muted by handkerchiefs, as
people return to their homes, as they carry on their daily lives. But on the third day, news quickly spreads that Jesus is alive. How can it be? You witnessed His death; you knew that
He had been wrapped and buried in a dark, cold tomb. How can it be?
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