Transformation?
Pastor Tom Millner
February 24, 2008
Matthew 7:7-8, Romans 12:1-21

“Do not be conformed any longer 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 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” The Pattern of this World: From the time we are born, practically, through all our education in this world, we are taught that “if it is to be, it is up to me.” We revel in the stories of those who have “pulled themselves up through their own bootstraps,” to accomplish phenomenal things in this world. We love the “rags to riches” stories. My daughter’s favorite video when she was a young child was “Cinderella.” She watched it so many times, the videotape broke and we had to get a new one. As a young son of a factory working farmer in the red clay hills of North Carolina, I dreamed of sandy beaches, exotic places, and vast experiences. Each of us has her or his own story of what it meant to us to “measure up” to a standard that we believed constituted success and satisfaction to us. School, parents, friends, the media – all bombard us with sometimes not so subtle suggestions as to what our measure should be. We buy it! We drive to make it our own. That elusive thing we call “arrival” at a place where all of our efforts coalesce into that monumental moment that proves to all – I AM NOT A FAILURE! - I AM NOT ASHAMED, I AM NOT A LOSER! Some of us have sought that moment through alcohol, through mind altering drugs, through sexual experiences – some through “religious” fervor - you name it. Yet, when we retreat back to those quiet and alone moments – the nagging begins anew – “Who are you fooling --- Who do you think you are?” And so goes the pattern of this world and all its systems (manmade). Paul’s words to the Romans in his day and time were addressing the same kinds of things about which we speak today. Paul had gone at length to declare to those Christians in Rome what they should believe, why they should believe it and what their response to that belief should be. And here we are at the same place – 2,000 years later. Human nature has not changed, but neither has Christ’s nature. We still are faced with choices – give self to the world as humankind would have it, or be transformed by the One who created us. Transformation through a renewed mind: If you look through the local book store section on “Self-help,” you’ll find a huge selection of books with titles that will make your head spin with the possibilities. You may even find one on “Transformational Thinking.” I have a book in my library on transformational leadership! The classic “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill has been a standard of the success driven society for the last 60 years! Another is “How to win Friends and Influence (i.e. use) People” by Dale Carneigie is another. Unfortunately, none of these deliver what is promised – transformation – instead, they deliver a new version of more of the same human desire to be the center of our world. It’s like packing our character defects with miracle grow! The transformation to which Paul is speaking is a spiritual one… one that requires a mind to be surrendered to the potter, emptied to be filled with Him… setting our own foolish ways aside, so that He may be our guide. A mind that is not only transformed, but transcends the confines of this worldly framework in which we operate – so that we, human as we are, may be guided by the Divine. For what purpose? - To Test and Approve God’s Will. This does not mean to approve of God’s will… that is the given of His will... but rather that we approve in ourselves the test of His will. That we know and follow His good and perfect will for our lives. Ever wonder what God’s will is for your life? Sometimes its actually easier to understand what His will is NOT for our lives. His will for our lives cannot go against His Word. His will for our lives is that we DO His will. God’s will for this church body is something that I’m excited about doing. It’s intertwined with God’s will for my life… and its intertwined with God’s will for your life, whether you know it or not, because He has called each of us here at this place for such a time as this. So, what is His will…………?? His Will is in His Command “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Everything that the Jewish person did in Paul’s day around the Law and the Prophets was to measure up. God’s will is never outside His imperative of love to Him and love to one another. If you question the nature of God’s will, it can be found only in the context of His divine love. We are not called to be transformed to the pattern of this world (the measure that would seem reasonable), but rather to the pattern of His world – the Kingdom of God wherein Love is the rule by which all action is taken. Ask, Seek, Knock: We wonder sometimes how we can discern (know) God’s will. We have not because we ask not. We ask not because we believe what He wills for us is too hard… It’s the easiest route – the only route to eternity. We cannot do His will, but He in us is His will being lived out. Ask, Seek, Knock! Transformation begins with desire to break the pattern We are told that insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. We live in an insane world. God calls us to sanity… in the name of Christ. There’s an old joke… “How many Psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?... Only one, but the light bulb has to really want to change.” Transformational change begins with desire to know the One through whom the grace to be transformed is given. The potter cannot mold the hard clay nor can He mold the flimsy… The clay just right is the one submitted to the Potter just as it is… Willing, open, asking, seeking, and knocking at the Potter’s door.

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