04/26/2021
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Are we living in a conformed world or in a transformed world? Have we chosen to just go with the flow of things or have we chosen to be different. The Children of God are different than the rest of the world. We are in the world but not of the world. God has called us a “peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9). We are, or should be, different than the world. Our thoughts and actions should be different than that of the world. Our thinking should be on a higher level than that of the world (Colossians 3:2). It is sad to say, but it seems that God’s “Peculiar People” have strayed from that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. So, what’s the problem? Can it be changed? When will it happen? Those are the questions! What are the answers?
First, what is the problem? We have become comfortable with sin! In conforming to the world we have allowed the things which God has condemned to become acceptable. Sin Condemns! The wages of sin is death and we are dying a slow death. In becoming comfortable with sin we have believed the lies of Satan. Satan has always used deception to bring man from God. Satan allows us to trust God, Satan allows us to serve God, but Satan deceives us into failing to make a total commitment to God. We keep our secret sins and have the idea that we are not really that bad. We want to go to Heaven when we die, but we are still comfortable with sin. Paul asked the question “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” And then he answers, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2). If we are honestly “dead to sin” how can we be so comfortable with sin? If our world is to change we must no longer be comfortable with sin. We must rise up and be the people God has called us to be. Shall we continue in sin? God forbid!
Second, can the problem be changed? Yes! But we must be willing to do that which God desires. God’s Word tells us, “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7”:14). There must be a turning from sin. God and sin cannot and do not conform together. A Godly people must turn from their wicked ways. However, at this present time we fail to see the wickedness in the land. Yes, some do, but many have become so accustomed to sin that we fail to see the wrong. To solve the problem in our land we must turn from our wickedness and fall before our just and loving God. God expects His people to humble themselves before Him. We must recognize and be aware of our sin. When we become aware of our sin we will confess our sin and God will forgive our sin. However, we are to turn from our sin and seek Him completely. Our problem can be changed but it will require us as God’s people to change. We must seek God while He may be found. At this present time we are very near the same place the people of Noah’s day were (Genesis 6:6). Are we willing to change in order for God to bless us again?
Third, when will we change? God’s Word says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today is the day for God’s people to be “Transformed” as we renew our minds to the things of God. Our minds must be changed so that we remember that we are not the same as before. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus. Our old ideas, ways, and comfortable sins have been cast away. We are not what we were, but we have been changed. We must begin now to live that changed life. We can no longer accept the lies of Satan. We must begin to live the “Transformed life” that leads us to a positive relationship with God. Often it takes time to turn a big ship but as the rudder is turned the ship begins to turn. If we each begin today to change by the transforming power of God we will see our land change. Yes, it will take time, but God is willing that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), so God is very patient with us and gives us the opportunity to turn this big ship called life. But, we must begin today. We must pray and seek God. We must be willing to turn for the norm of society and get back to the basic of Godly living. When will our world change? When we allow the transforming power of God to really take place in our life! Today is the day!
Remember what the Word of God tells us, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed”. We are the Children of God and we should live as the Children of God. Our world can be better because we as God’s Children live to make it better. We can’t be conformed but we must be transformed!
I have prayed for you this morning. I pray that we will stand firm in the transforming power of God and we will see our land change.
Bro. Tom
