Progress brings chaos. If we are going to move forward then we must make changes to what we are presently doing. Change is chaotic. Change is getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. Sometimes the process of change seems very chaotic. To endure the process of change, means we must hold on to a vision of the desired result in order to mold the chaos into progress.
I am in the process right now of transforming our front room into a new office. My old office was only slightly bigger than a closet. The process of transformation requires that the old gets moved aside. Old wallpaper gets stripped off. Boxes get moved. Furniture gets moved. Walls get painted. Eventually with lots of work, the transformation is complete, and a beautiful new office will exist.
Our lives are a lot like that. As Christians we are called to a life of transformation. ” Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ” (Romans 12:1–2, NIV84) Sometimes the process is not pretty.
To endure the process of transformation, we must keep in mind what the outcome is that God is bringing us to. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV84) Our hearts are being remodeling to reflect God’s glory. The outcome of transformation is that we look like Christ and walk in the power, destiny and authority God has called us to. It is an awesome remodel.
The process however can feel difficult and chaotic. Paul understood this. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18, NIV84)
There are many parts of our old life that must go. If they don’t go, there is no room in our lives for the destiny of God. Hatred gets replaced with love. Bitterness makes room for forgiveness. Fear surrenders to faith.
God has a vision, a glory, for each of us. To the level that we surrender and submit ourselves to God is the level of God’s glory that will be reflected in us. “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. ” (Isaiah 64:8, NIV84)
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