By Augustus Henry (PhD)
It is common when you go to a funeral to hear the that deceased was a good person. Even though we knew that person’s flaws and unsavory tendencies, we still hope that at the last second, he changed. The eulogy at funerals turns devils into angels and demons into saints. That is so because we want to believe that that individual in the casket had broken bad habits and had turned his personality around.
Mental transformation, an impossible task.
The path of moving from what you are to what you want to be, or you need to be, is an impossibility.
In the process of describing the difficulty of change, Jeremiah asked a question: Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil (Jeremiah 13:23).
[One] major reason that makes change difficult is that we are not ready and willing for change. We may be comfortable where we are and even scared to step into the unknown. As long as our current state provides us with comfort and security, making the change will be difficult (Theo Tsaousides Ph.D.).
Change is hard! And the biggest enemy of growth is comfort.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you; it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you; it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24).
Jesus is referencing the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19. Here is a man who wants eternal life. He wants to live forever. He desires the health benefits, bliss, and the glory that come with eternal salvation. But he refuses, or he Just cannot, make the required change to receive that invaluable gift.
This is a gift that is worth more than all his possessions. This wealthy man grew up believing in Isaiah 65: that God would create a new heaven and a new earth, where pain, crime and Violence would be a thing of the past, where he would never be sick again. But modifying his ways from passive love to active love was a bridge too far.
So, Jesus said, it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Notice that the disciples, not being rich themselves, determined that Jesus was not just referring to the rich. They knew he was addressing everyone who had possessions.
Therefore, unless we modify our perspective to de-emphasize the things we own here, we all will lose heaven and eternal life. And the disciples thought that that type of change was impossible.
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
There is a pathway to change.
In Christianity, modifying or transforming the mind is often associated with spiritual growth and alignment with God’s will, and that is an expectation for Christians:
Soloman expected growth among humans. He said the path of the righteous grows. Paul expected change: he admonitions becoming spiritually mature in our inner being. Jesus expected growth, he called his followers from being fishermen to being fishers of men. He said be ye perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect.
However, if human transformation is as difficult as animals changing the color pattern of their fur, or for humans to recolour their own complexion, how do we move from a mind and personality that is steeped in sin to one that represents that character of a righteous God?
The Blood of Jesus, a transforming agent.
The first is to draw on the blood of Jesus: Hebrews 9:14, How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 13:12, And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
Godly habits can inspire change.
When It’s hard to Move the mind, train the body and the mind will follow. Good habits work better for transformation than any amount of mental exercise.
Scripture Study: Regular reading and meditation on the Bible help Christians align their thoughts with God’s truth. David said, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). This highlights the importance of internalizing God’s word to avoid sin and live righteously.
Prayer: Engaging in prayer is a way for Christians to communicate with God, seek His guidance, and receive His peace. Philippians 4:6-7, talks about presenting requests to God through prayer, which leads to the peace of God guarding one’s heart and mind. They say the people with whom you associate will influence your character – association with God through daily communication with him is the best influence for which to hope.
Meaningful experiences of Transformation
Mediating structures: exposure to wholesome experiences will determine your proficiency in righteousness.
Community and Fellowship:
Hebrews 10:24, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Obedience to God: Practicing obedience to God’s commands helps in shaping one’s mind and character.
James 1:22-25: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
The word has power to change us only if we practice it.
Reflection, a measure of transformation.
Understanding needed zone of necessary growth: where you are on your Christian Journey, and where you need to be.
Mindfulness and Reflection: Regular self-reflection and mindfulness of one’s thoughts and actions in light of God’s teachings help in aligning the mind with a Christ-like perspective. 2 Corinthians 10:5 encourages taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
Renewing the Mind: Romans 12:2, emphasizes the renewal of the mind, encouraging believers not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This involves a shift in thinking from worldly values to godly values. Understanding the difference between your engagement in what Jesus calls ‘the cares of this world.’
As we end this message, can you think of three current character flaws that you want to modify or change? Can better fellowship help change them? Can a more consistent consumption of the word of God facilitate that change? Can deliberate and frequent consultation with God in prayer change these flaws?
Through these practices, a Christian seeks to cultivate a mind that reflects God’s love, wisdom, and holiness, leading to a transformed and spiritually mature life.