It’s been said,
“Nothing is certain, except Death and Taxes.”
I say,
“Nothing is certain, except Death, Taxes, and CHANGE.”
Everything Changes, Except Change
Life is always changing.
- Change is the sign of living, or dying.
- Change is growth, or entropy.
- Change is integral with life.
Change or Transformation?
All Transformation is Change.
But not all Change is Transformation.
Yes, we can seek change in our life. Even seek to change ourself, by ourself.
But more than Change, I think God desires Transformation.
YeHoVaH desires our Transformation:
15bwe are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ
Ephesians 4:15b NASB
We have been given the Way, via prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, into being transformed to be more like Christ.
Spiritual Transformation leads to Spiritual Growth. Spiritual Growth leads to Spiritual Maturity.
Spiritual Transformation resulting in Spiritual Growth and Maturity is shown by evidence of this transformation, i.e., fruit.
Spiritual Transformation
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
John 15:8 NASB
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:43-45 NASB
Spiritual Transformation includes changes in the Mind, Heart, Actions, and Body.
A Transformation of Mind
A transformation of Mind from a focus on the things of the earth to a focus on the things of heaven.
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
[but] 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Ephesians $:17, 22-24 NASB
5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Romans 8:5-6 NASB
16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB
A Transformation of Heart
A transformation of Heart from selfishness to grateful thanksgiving; from desire for revenge to forgiveness; from being worn down by life (bios) to having joy in life (zoe) abundant in the Messiah.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NASB
A Transformation of Actions
A transformation of Actions from being meanspirited to being kind; from being cutthroat to being generous; from being hateful to being loving.
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 NASB
A Transformation of Body
A transformation of Body from the carnal body of Adam to the spiritual body of Yeshua; from the corruptible earth-born body to the Spirit-born divine body.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21 NASB
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them become you may partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
2 Peter 1:2-4 NASB
Ordinary Change
But then there’s Ordinary Change.
Ordinary Change includes
- A change in circumstances – in family size (up or down), in job, or in location.
- A change of habit – diet, exercise, sleep schedule.
- A change of relationship – marriage, divorce, birth, death.
Each change creates a “new normal,” a different direction, an alternate reality, of life before the change.
I remember when we came home from the hospital with our firstborn.
I remember wondering when things would “get back to normal.”
I figured out that things would never get “back to normal,” that there was now a “new normal,” just before our number two son came home from the hospital.
And, yet, another “new normal.”
Currently, we’re going through a time of “ordinary” change (with, I think, the opportunity for transformation).
We’re in the process of selling our house, sorting and packing 20-years’ worth of “stuff,” and moving to a different residence, a different city, a different social community.
The excitement of what is to come is tempered by what is being left behind.
The hundreds (thousands?) of decisions as to what to take and what to get rid of have been overwhelming.
We are culling through two decades of life in this house in order to “half-size” – downsize to about half the space we have now.
There’s happiness in being closer to our son and grandson.
There’s sadness in being farther from friends and church.
Now we’re moving from our “normal” life in Charlotte to something new.
A place we found on a map.
A place we have only visited.
A place where we do not yet have a residence.
A place where our new house is merely in our imagination (and a few lines on paper).
And yet, it is:
A place revealed by answered prayer.
A place discovered by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
A place more than fulfilling our “wish list” for the next phase of our lives.
POV on Change
Change can be positive or negative, depending on your perspective, on your Point Of View (POV).
In the process of change, as well as, in the process of transformation, we are to remember Romans 8:28 NASB
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NASB
Change shakes up your life and lets things fall where they may (as the Father allows/ directs).
Change, after all, changes things.
I remember hearing years ago:
“In order to change your life, you have to actually change your life.”
How have you changed your life recently?
What have you added or subtracted to your home, your relationships, your work, your to-do list?
Is the change for better, or for worse?
Is the change superficial, or deep?
Is the change moving you farther from Spiritual Maturity?
Or are you being transformed into Christ-likeness?
Yes, the past few months have been hard (and busy).
Yes, the next couple or so months will be hard (and busy).
But yes, we see God’s hand in this change.
We trust YeHoVaH to place us where He wants us to be.
We trust Yeshua to go before us making the way clear.
We trust the Holy Spirit to be with us, in us, giving us His power to
“rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 NASB
More, (sometime) later.
Blessings,
TLThomas