Transformed

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is

—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

--Romans12:2

God intends for us, his children, to be different, indeed, to standout in our uniquely contrasting attitudes and behavior. So what is “the pattern of this world” he wants us not to conform to? Most people could answer this question easily. This world's people are angry, hostile, mean-spirited, jealous, aggressive, greedy, selfish, narcissistic, sex-obsessed, lustful and yet hateful, but also afraid, hopeless, insecure, sad, even miserable, fearful of being truly known but wanting desperately to be known and accepted. Why would anyone choose to be conformed to that?

Why, indeed? The use of the passive voice is significant. A person will be and is conformed to this world's pattern without actively choosing, but a believer may choose to resist or even escape the choosing force and go a very different direction. Of course, a mind so influenced by the negative needs help to think positively. It needs a full transformation, mental renewal, a switch from a worldly, evil mind-set to a godly one. God offers us the power, beginning in a new birth, providing his Spirit within and around and among us, making his Word available to us, promising us “life and life more abundant” (John 10:10).

The previous verse describes this choice “in view of God’s mercy, (to) offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1). This is an allusion back to the sacrifice of the lamb in ancient Hebrew worship, which was an (inadequate) blood atonement for the worshiper's sin. Jesus became the perfect and sufficient sacrifice, and we trust in him and his provision for our entire sinful attitude and record of sinful acts to be wiped away. After his complete forgiveness, our sacrifice is merely one, far less costly, of thought and lifestyle, but one that should attract us powerfully. Why would anyone prefer to live the old way? That path is nothing but a pointless, ineffective attempt to earn or steal what he has already promised and given freely to those who trust him. It's just a simple choice, and God offers us abundant assistance in achieving the goal.

Yes, the choice is easy, but the execution does involve sacrifice, and sacrifices are never easy. Perhaps the hardest part is really believing God will do his part, that he has been completely truthful. We've all been disappointed by lies and unfulfilled promises; those scars lie deep within. We are children, still learning to be God's kids. And, like children, we have misbehaved. Like children, we've been caught and yet tried to deny our guilt...but we knew...and we haven't forgotten. We intend (hopefully) to trust God, but in our minds sacrifice is a big risk. We know we deserve to lose everything, never get the good stuff, and suffer for our sin. We want to believe God's promises, but we fear disaster will befall us, just as it should.

Yet, these words to the Jews in exile echo through the ages to us as well, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13). It has only taken me the better part of 70 years to learn this, not to go to the very last phrase, “when you seek me with all your heart,” to exempt myself from what this says by doubting myself. It simply means that, if you really look for the Lord, you will find him! If you need a bit more encouragement, this has helped me: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). Whenever I am prone to doubt my own will or fear my efforts are inadequate, this reminds me (yes, I have memorized it!) that I have a divine partner who is on the job inside my heart and mind providing both will and effort to beef up my own!

Indeed, that is the whole point of the transformation he urges us to choose and allow, rather than living on in the miserable state of this world. Our God is so good and gracious! He is not a hateful god who seeks only to destroy the infidel. He is not a passive god, using only reincarnation to slowly create good over generations. Nor does he use karma to bring justice on us for our failures in this life. Our God, the true and the living God, loves us, directs us in our quest for salvation, recognizes our defects and failures and provides “a way of escape” through the live-saving death of his Son Jesus Christ, his free gift requiring only our faith in him, and then enables our transformation to think and live as his children, as his emissaries to other lost souls on this troubled earth, until finally he finally andfully transforms us to be like his glorious, resurrected Son!