Transformation should be a natural occurrence in the life of a Christian and can only be accomplished by the renewing of your mind. All things transform some at a slow rate and some very fast. Some transformation is very noticeable while others are not. It is expected in the life of every believer, we start as babies in Christ and we are expected to grow spiritually until we grow in maturity. However, many of us never really transform, after we gave our life to Christ there has not been any significant changes to our life style, transformation is essential for growth.
What is transformation?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes “Transformation” as
- An act, process, or instance of transforming or being transformed
- False hair worn especially by a woman to replace or supplement natural hair
- The operation of changing
- An operation that converts (as by insertion, deletion, or permutation)
Is transformation always positive?
Transformation is not always positive; it can be a negative process too. For example if someone has a terminal illness, the rate of transformation would be very negative. Many illnesses will cause the body to wither away, some at a slow rate and some very fast. The point is that this kind of transformation cannot be regarded as the positive kind. There many changes that are occurring in the United Kingdom, not all are positive.
Transformation can also be halted. For example in a butterfly’s transformation, if we take the pupa out of the cocoon before transformation is complete, the 
transformation would be halted and the pupa would die. This too can be regarded as a negative process. Can you imagine being an adult stock in a child’s body, maybe in the body of a 10-year-old. Before you can do anything as an adult, you have to prove that you are an adult. This is a very good representation of many Christians today.
“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 NIV
Is transformation a suggestion or a command?
One of the major problems that many Christian believers face today is that we assume that our call to transform is a suggestion and not a command. If we look at Romans 12:2 we find that our call to transform is indeed a command that many of us choose not to obey. To paint a clearer picture let’s start from vs 1
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLT
Paul who was one of the early founders of the Christian church, in the above verses use the word “don’t.” Some version uses “do not”, these are all command words. If I want my children to stop doing something, I would say don’t do that again, I am giving them a command. If Paul was making a suggestion he would have use the word “try not to” but he didn’t. Not only did he not give us a command in vs 2, in vs 1 he pleaded with us to keep this command, I wonder why? Let’s look at the book of Revelation to find out.
““I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:15-16 NLT
We can see from the above verse that the lukewarm individual is in trouble, why? The individual that is cold knows that he is cold and one day he might realise the need to grow hot. The individual who is hot is actually doing the right thing and might want to continue or he might not and then become cold. However, the lukewarm individual who believes they have arrived but have not really arrived is in trouble because they will not put in the effort that is needed to actually arrive. It is like being stuck in traffic on your way to your destination and not doing anything about it.
A friend once told me that one day he was stuck in traffic at the Dartford Tunnel. This area is known for its serious congestion when something goes wrong. He said he pulled up to the side and then went to sleep till the traffic cleared up. He did this because he could not move forward neither could he move back. Now imagine that you’re stuck in the traffic of transformation. Many of us, we’re doing what my friend did; we’re pulled up to the side of the road and
have gone to sleep.
For a positive transformation to occur in the life of a true child of God, it is one where there is change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of
the world to one that pleases God.
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. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
This can only be accomplished by the renewing of your minds, an inward spiritual transformation that will manifest itself in outward actions.
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