In a previous post, I pointed out that we are being saved, which means God intends to continue to change us until we enter His Heaven. I also mentioned that a survey I had our congregation take revealed I was pastoring people who had been stalled in their baby spiritual stage for 25 years or more. In seeking to understand the sad situation, I realized I wasn’t communicating well enough the need to keep changing, but I could also see people simply didn’t want to change. Let’s face it, change forces us out of our comfort zone that can be scary and painful. The only ones who enjoy change are those whose personality loves taking risks. However, these folks even resist change if it is not their idea to change.
The challenge with changes comes because of our tendency to see changes as problems rather than opportunities for learning and growth. The early Greek philosopher Heraclitus said there is nothing permanent except change. You change your life in the only way you can ever change it: change your mind, and then your life will change. You can begin by imagining that you had a baby, and it never grew up. You were still giving them the bottle and changing their diapers when they were 50 years old. Or imagine a stoplight shining red that never changes and a police car always sitting on that corner. Does that exercise make change look better?
When I refuse to change into Christ’s likeness, it is quite possible that God will farm me out to other masters for my own spiritual education. God farmed the Jews of Jeremiah’s day out to serve King Nebuchadnezzar for 70 years to get them to change from worshipping other gods. Paul told the Corinthians to deliver an immoral man in the church over to Satan so that he might come to repentance. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5) Could it be the obnoxious neighbor, boss at work, friend, spouse is who God is using to get us pried free so we can move on in our spiritual journey? After all, marriage is to make us holy more than to make us happy. If this is your situation, it would be to your advantage to praise Him and thank that person for getting you to change into Christ’s likeness. Or would you rather remain comfortable and miss out on God’s purpose for your life?
We must remember, God loves us more than we love ourselves. He is always good, even though we must pass through the valley of the shadow of death before we come to the brilliance and delight of His best for us. This means He will disrupt our life with discomfort if that pain can get us out of the ditch in which we are stuck. Without those disruptions, I will never become what God intends for me to be or never reach those God has planned for me to lead to Christ. Remember, a mother must go through the birthing pains before her baby is born. Jesus had to go through death on the cross before He could experience the resurrection or ascension.
This verse is so encouraging. I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3, NLT2).