Being transformed?

A current chorus begins with, “When all I see is the battle, You see my victory. When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved.” How easily I can focus on the battle, the problem, and forget that God uses all things, even afflictions, for good — the good being to transform my life into the image of His Son.

Christians tend to ask God to remove the problem so we will be comfortable. However, if He does give comfort, it has another purpose. Instead of making me feel better, He wants me to use the comfort He gives to comfort others…

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:8–11)

That being His will, living it out follows the pattern of the gospel. I cannot save myself, and I cannot endure suffering like Jesus does, unless the Holy Spirit is doing it through me. And one way that I learn how that works is by keeping my eyes on Him. Thinking I can do anything He asks apart from the Spirit is futile.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17–18)

Not everyone sees this. Only God’s people, and only those who deny self to serve Him:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:3–6)

Reading these verses helps me avoid the common response to suffering — asking God to remove the problem so I will be comfortable. However, having a switch in the reason I want comfort means the lesson of suffering has been learned, at least some of it. It makes me think about the reason Jesus died. It certainly was about the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12), but it was the foundation needed to set us free from our suffering in sin’s bondage and in the fear of dying. As Paul wrote, we do “have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…” (2 Corinthians 4:7–12)

When life hands me discomfort, it helps to realize that even in suffering, my inner self is being renewed and prepared for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. That requires looking to what I cannot see — God’s eternal promises, fulfilled and demonstrated in the One who battles for me. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

PRAY: Yesterday’s thoughts on Your suffering for the sins of all humanity for all time put two great extremes in my heart. The obvious is great sorrow for Your pain. The other is great joy for the love that motivated such selflessness. I need to gaze at Your glory and allow You to use affliction, great or small, to transform me yet at the same time realize that goal is so incredible that even thinking it is beyond me. Oh Jesus, I do love You. 

Going where you are looking?

Moving around North America is an educational experience. One thing I noted is that my children picked up the characteristics of their friends, particularly their speech patterns. One of them had a friend from Boston and was soon talking as if he were from Boston. Another had friends in California and gained an accent that stuck with her for months after we left that state. Perhaps this is the reason I’m drawn to the thoughts in this passage . . .

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17–18)

The second part essentially says the same thing about emulating our friends, only this verse says that when I am gazing at the glory of God, He transforms me to be like Him. However, there is a caveat; the process requires an ‘unveiled face’ which is explained in the context of these verses.

They explain how Moses spent time with God and his face shone. However, that shine eventually faded and he covered his face so the people would not see it or the fading. The passage says their hearts were hardened because they were stuck in the ideas of the old covenant based on keeping the Law of God. Only when a person turns to Christ is that veil removed.

This means that looking at Christ has transforming power only if I am not trying to earn the favor of God by my rule-keeping or good deeds or anything else. The change occurs by gazing at His glory, not mixing it with my own efforts.

The first part of those verses offer encouragement. This process happens because of the Holy Spirit. That is, in His presence I am free to be who I am, loved by God and not anxious. I know He loves me. I am accepted in Christ and safe in His care. This is freedom, freedom from the bondage of ‘sin and die’ and the bondage of continually trying to keep a law that I cannot keep.

The changes in my children’s speech patterns eventually faded away, but the changes that God makes in a life that is fixed on Him do not fade. Rather, they increase until the day they are complete.

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2–3)

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Jesus, because of this promise, I know that one day the task will be finished — I will be like You. I’m aware that I’ve a long way to go, but You are gracious and patient. You will finish the task and that will be glory for me!

Grace and humility

Years ago, someone wrote a book entitled, “Grace is not a Blue-eyed Blonde” with intention to clear up the meaning of biblical grace. This word does have several definitions. It is said to be ‘God’s undeserved kindness’ or ‘God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.’ My favorite is: ‘a revelation of Jesus Christ that produces a changed life.’

This definition fits my experience of salvation; God opened my heart to realize who Jesus is and what He has done in such a way that I was born anew. It also fits the daily experience of living by grace, growing more like Jesus as He reveals Himself to me through His Word and through my relationship with Him.

The book of job illustrates this definition too. Job had many troubles. He did not know that he was a battleground. Satan challenged the Lord saying if Job was not blessed by God, the faith that God gave him would crumble. God gave this evil being access to do whatever he wanted, only he was not allowed to take Job’s life.

Throughout his trial, Job had no idea what was going on in the spiritual realm. He only knew that he lost everything except his wife and his life. At first, he accepted that God’s hand was on him, but when his three friends began accusing him, things changed. They said he must have done something to deserve this treatment and was being punished. Job knew that was not true and defended himself. However, he became frustrated with their arguments and dangerously close to accusing God of wrong-doing.

In the end, God spoke to him. Here is part of the conversation:

And the Lord said to Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 40:1–5)

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1–6)

Job’s attitude of humility came when his eyes saw God, a sovereign act of grace. This ‘seeing’ was not necessarily literal, but the presence of God was so real to him that he used those words. This revelation of God changed Job and moved him to humility.

David experienced the same thing after his sin was uncovered and forgiven. He described the change of heart and said: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

For us, the ultimate revelation of God comes through Jesus Christ. The New Testament says things like:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17–18)

Being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ is the destiny of those who believe in Him. As we gaze upon His glory and worship His holy name, we are both humbled and exalted, humbled because we realize who He is and that we are unworthy of His love. Yet we are exalted because we are brought close to Him in that humble state: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

God’s prophets foretell this grace will happen when Jesus comes the second time —in seeing Him, people will be broken and transformed:

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)

Brokenness isn’t the best feeling in the world. Having a contrite heart runs contrary to pride and that ‘self-confidence’ that is supposed to characterize ‘successful’ people. However, it is in this condition that God changes lives. The wisest man said, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3)

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Jesus, I’ve not been fond of feeling broken or contrite, but I realize why these attitudes are necessary to faith. When I think I am important, or self-sufficient, or have merit in myself, I immediately stop trusting You and stop the process of being transformed into Your likeness. Being humble and sorry for my sin keeps me in the right attitude before You.