Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This has got to be, hands down, my favorite verse. It’s one of the few I can actually remember on a regular basis, and one that I constantly find that I need to hear.
It also makes me think of The Transformers. Every. Single. Time. I read it. And, when I think of The Transformers I am reminded of the ice breaker my friend always uses when he meets new people.
Apparently, everyone has their own version of the sound that a transformer makes when they go from robot to whatever, and vice versa. No two sound effects are alike. This always leads to laughter and conversation as new sound effects are added to the list and old favorites are recounted. The one thing that ties all the various renditions of the transforming sound is the robot hand motion that accompanies them. As humans, we are unable to make robot sounds without robot movement. Try it. I dare you.
Thinking about it now, making the transformer sound means you are conforming to the patterns of this world because the world has decided that you have to make the robot movement when you make the transforming sounds, which the Bible clearly says not to do. I suppose I am not in the Word enough. My faith is not strong enough because I have not been transformed and I have no idea what God’s will is. What a predicament. The very verse that says not to conform to the patterns of this world causes me to conform to the patterns of this world. It’s a problem. I’m working on it. That Satan is an evil trickster.
It seems like there or so many of these little trip ups out there; seemingly insignificant things that slow us down, make us stop, or cause us to fall. They are those little seeds that when planted can cause disaster. Do you see the snow ball rolling down the hill? I do. It starts out so small, pebble sized, barely rolling, then it hits a bump and the ground beneath is begins to slope and it picks up speed and more snow. The process repeats, and if it goes unchecked, that little snow ball can cause some serious damage (in cartoons at least). It would have been so easy to squash if only it had been identified as a potential threat.
Likewise, small thoughts can lead to big sins. They may go unnoticed throughout the day, but each one builds on the one before it. I won’t give examples because I don’t want to plant anything in your mind, but you know the thoughts I am talking about. When you survey your sin, you see how it started and how one thought lead to another which lead to another and each time you had a choice to make. The Holy Spirit was trying to warn you that you were heading down a dark path and you chose to ignore it. Each time it got harder and harder to turn away from the temptation.
This is why we as Christians have to stay in the word regularly. I don’t mean just on holidays. I don’t mean just on Sundays. I don’t mean just when we screw up. I mean everyday. I mean we get verses stuck in our heads like ‘The Macarena’ (Hey, Macarena!). We use the Word to let God talk to us. We use the Word to let God transform us. We use the Word to connect with God; to strengthen our relationship with him, and deepen our understanding of his will for our lives.
Don’t let the world tell you it’s just some old book. It’s not. It’s the living, breathing Word of our Creator. And if you want proof of that read The Unshakable Truth by Josh and Sean McDowell. They will wow you with information about the authenticity of the Bible.
How has God transformed you lately?
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