BBD 09.16.11 Transformed
Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>
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09.16.11
Transformed
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the
world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed
to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf,
be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that
we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Six years ago Megan Ashton bought a beat up 40-year-old VW Beetle for $316
(200 GBP). Today that same car is worth an estimated $40,000 (25,000 GBP).
What happened to that car? Megan was 20-years-old when she bought the car
dreaming of one day being able to drive, not a VW Beetle to her wedding, but
a Porsche 356. Megan is a Royal Navy engineering officer, and her father
owns a garage. Over a six year period, the VW Beetle was stripped down and
rebuilt into a replica of the Porsche 356. That ugly duckling of a VW Beetle
has been transformed into a beautiful vehicle. The replica Porsche 356, was
driven proudly by Megan to her wedding, as she had dreamed of doing for so
many years. (Mail Online 09.15.11)
The transformation of Ashton's VW Beetle into the now beautiful Porsche 356
replica is a picture of the Christian life. It is a picture of how God takes
the ugly duckling worm of a sinner and transforms that person into an
"ambassador for Christ"; an ambassador for the King of kings, and the Lord
of lords.
There is a beginning point to becoming a Christian. We do not become a
Christian by becoming a member of a church, or by being baptized. We do not
become a Christian by being born into a family that happens to be Christian.
We become a Christian by being "born again" as Jesus tells Nicodemus in John
3:3. We are birthed into the Kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11)
and sealed until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). We are "born again"
into the family of God as spiritual babies (1 Corinthians 3:1) and are to
grow to maturity (Philippians 3:15).
God will continue this process of transforming us from the sinners that we
were into being like Christ as long as we are alive on this Earth
(Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29). Some bright shining day the ultimate
transformation into perfection with our glorified bodies will be completed.
In Philippians 3:20-21 we are told this, "For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who
will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,
according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to
Himself."
When we are "born again" that old sinner creature that we were is no more.
God begins the transformation process giving us a new life with new desires,
and new dreams. We grow from baby Christians to mature Christians. The
process of that growth is fast, or slow, depending upon how much of the Lord
Jesus Christ we put on (Romans 13:14). You can put on (clothe yourselves -
NIV) more of the Lord Jesus, by reading and studying the Word of God. You
can put on more of the Lord Jesus, by spending time in prayer. You can put
on more of the Lord Jesus, by assembling with other believers (Hebrews
10:24-15). You can put on more of the Lord Jesus, by living for Him, by
being His ambassador upon this Earth.
My old dreams have faded away. I can barely remember how evil my desires
used to be. I am far from being perfect. However, I am being transformed
more and more into the image of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope and
pray that you are being transformed too!
Copyright © 2011. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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