Be Transformed

"And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]." Romans 12:2, AMP

This Scripture has been a big part of my husband's spiritual journey. His favorite passage is Romans 12:1-2. My husband states, "the mind is the most important thing to get a person to understand the Word of God." I have always called the "mind" the "devil's playground." Mental institutions are full of individuals that have lost their minds, but not their physical bodies.

The Apostle Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to, "cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (KJV). A person's mind is a powerful thing. If you start filling your mind with negative things, you will think negatively. If you start filling your mind with positive things, you will think positively. If a person's mind is not right, they can't see clearly how God wants them to transform.

Transformation is a process that is needed in the body of Christ. Let's consider the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. The creature goes through a metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is actually the Greek word for transformation or to change in shape. The caterpillar starts off as an egg. The egg is laid on the plant by the adult female butterfly. Once the eggs hatch, the plants become food for them.

The next stage in the caterpillars life cycle is the feeding stage. The larva's job is to eat continually. The larva then begins to grow, split and shed its skin. Some food is stored until the caterpillar becomes an adult. Their growth in this stage gets them ready for the next stage. Next, you have the transition stage. This is when the caterpillar becomes full grown and stops eating. It is now called a pupa and/or chrysalis. To the natural eye, nothing is transpiring on the outside, but all the changes are happening inside.

The larva special cells are developing into legs, wings, eyes, and other parts of an adult butterfly. The larva cells provides energy for the growing adult cells. The final stage is the reproductive stage. In this stage, the adult butterfly is formed. No growth takes place during this stage. Originally, the job was for the caterpillar was to eat, but as the transformation occurred, the job changed for the adult to mate and lay eggs.

The transformation process of a caterpillar to a butterfly is unique. The transformation of a sinner to a believer takes a similar approach. The first step in a person's walk comes from a seed being planted. The seed that was planted eventually grows. They hear, receive, and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are born again in Christ as a new being, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). They start the process as a follower of Christ (disciple).

In the next stage, the person grows in their spiritual disciplines. They grow in the relationship they have with Christ, in reading the Word of God, prayer, faith, meditation, journaling, silence and solitude, and so much more. The only difference in this process compared to the insect is a believer never stops growing. Next, the person has changes that might not be seen immediately on the outside, but the changes are coming from within.

When the person became a believer, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit is a person's spiritual guide. The Holy Spirit searches the heart and knows the mind. The more the believer grows in God, the more the Holy Spirit begins to grow. The Spirit of God within has to be fed the Word of God. Just as the caterpillar was changing from the inside out, the believer will as well. These internal changes that's often not seen will begin to show outwardly.

The next stage is when the person's inward growth and changes begins to produce fruit. The transformation of a believer never stops that's why I said, "next stage." Change will be a continuous process for a believer. In this stage, the person's inward changes is now seen on the outside. The person has decided to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. The believer sought after and walked after the Spirit of God. Now they will begin to display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Everyone at some point will change or be changed in life. You can either change for the best or worse. It's solely up to you. This message wasn't intended to provide a complete step-by-step guide of the transformation of a believer. It was given to demonstrate the changes that occur as a believer. The transformation of a sinner to a believer of Jesus Christ. Saul changed from a person that persecuted believers to a person that stood up for the body of Christ. He had a road to Damascus experience that was an eye opener. Are you ready to transform?