God wants to make me new. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,” That sounds
pretty crazy. I want to laugh, like Sarah laughed. My mediocrity is way too
tall and imposing. A solid wall rising up to heaven, like the wall of Jericho , like the Berlin
wall. But those walls came down. Can I live in hope that this wall will come
down?
After writing this, I still feel the unnerving sense of
uncertainty between two worlds, what I know and what might be. Who am I?
Reluctant to change because I’m afraid?
Scripture talks about transformation as though it is
finished, a done deal. But it also says over and over again that newness is an
attitude we have to take up, a calculation we have to make, something we need
faith for (and faith implies something we don’t see yet). And this seeming
paradox makes sense, it is how God’s promises often work. He makes a promise,
so we can be assured that He will do it, that is the finished aspect. But he
makes a promise because the time has not yet come to do what he promised. That
is the waiting in faith without seeing aspect.
Some of the promises of newness
Jeremiah 31:31-34: God will write the law on our hearts, we
will all know him, and won’t need to be taught to know him. (Jeremiah wrote
this as a future promise, but Jesus brought the New Covenant).
Romans 6:2-4: In Christ’s death we died to sin, and rose
again to new life.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Anyone in Christ is a new creation
2 Corinthians 3:18: We all reflect the Lord’s glory and are
being transformed into his likeness.
Gal 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer
live but Christ lives in me.
Some of the reminders that newness takes time.
Rom 12:1-3: present yourselves as living sacrifices, do not
conform but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 6:11: Consider (calculate) yourselves as dead to sin
and alive to God.
2 Corinthians 5:2: We groan, longing to be clothed with our
heavenly dwelling
Gal 2:20b: “The life I live in the body, I live by faith in
the Son of God,” If it is by faith, it is not by sight.
