Changed

Changed

Scriptures: John 3:3; 18:36; Romans 6:1-11; Colossians 3:1-4

The title of my message this morning is “Changed.” The word change is defined as “to become or make different.” When used in the past tense it means to “have become or been made different.”

Before I get into the heart of this message, I want to share a story with you that I am sure most of you know. It’s the abbreviated story of Pinocchio. The story begins in the Italian workshop of a woodworker named Geppetto. Jiminy Cricket watches as Geppetto finishes work on a wooden puppet that he names Pinocchio. Before falling asleep, Geppetto makes a wish on a star that Pinocchio will be a real boy. During the night, a Blue Fairy visits the workshop and brings Pinocchio to life, although he still remains a puppet. She informs him that if he proves himself brave, truthful, and unselfish, he will become a real boy, and assigns Jiminy to be his conscience. The next morning Geppetto discovers that his wish has come true, and is filled with joy. However, on his way to school, Pinocchio is led astray by Honest John the Fox and his companion, Gideon the Cat, who convinces him to join Stromboli's puppet show, despite Jiminy's objections.

Pinocchio becomes Stromboli's star attraction as a puppet that can sing and dance without strings. However, when Pinocchio wants to go home for the night, Stromboli locks him in a birdcage. Jiminy arrives to see Pinocchio and is unable to free him. The Blue Fairy appears and asks Pinocchio why he was not at school. Jiminy urges Pinocchio to tell the truth, but instead, he starts telling lies, which causes his nose to grow longer and longer. Pinocchio vows to be good from now on, and the Blue Fairy returns his nose to its original form and sets him free while warning him that this will be the last time she can help him. You know the rest of the story of how he got into trouble again; ended up on Pleasure Island; escapes; and ultimately saves the life of Geppetto which leads to him becoming a real boy. What I want you to see through this story (you really must use your imaginations) is how it parallels our change when we got saved. When we get saved we are innocent Christians who must learn a new way to live. You see our responses to the world changes from a worldly view to a spiritual one. And like Pinocchio who needed Jiminy to be his conscious and provide guidance, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us make the right decisions. And, please pay attention to this, like Pinocchio who refused to listen to Jiminy and thus got into trouble, we too get into trouble when we fail to listen to the Holy Spirit. Everything worked out for Pinocchio when he proved to be brave, truthful and unselfish and it can work out for us too when we die to the world in order to live (be real) for Christ. So keep this story in your mind as I talk this morning about what it means to be changed.

In 1975, Walter Hawkins released a song titled “Changed” on his “Love Alive” album. In this song he talked about the change that Jesus made in his life after he accepted Him. Listen to some of the words from that song: “A change, a change has come over me; He changed my life and now I'm free. He washed away all my sins, and He made me whole. He washed me white as snow. He changed, my life complete, and now I sit, I sit at His feet. To do what must be done, I'll work and work, until He comes. A wonderful change has come over me.” What change was he talking about? He was talking about the transition that takes place in our lives after we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Let me put it another way so that it will stick with you.

In August of 1968 I died; I was 7 years old. I didn’t know it and no one else seemed to notice. I had died to everything that linked me to this world and yet I didn’t know it and no one else seemed to notice. There were others around me who had also died and no one seemed to notice them either. I mean how can someone die and they not know that they are dead and those around them don’t seem to notice either? Please understand, I am not talking about seeing ghosts or anything like that, but when I look at myself and most of you, I see dead people. I guess you could say that I, and all of who have accepted Christ, became one of “the walking dead.” I just didn’t know it then and no one else seemed to notice it. So how did we die? We died when we accepted Christ. We died to this world and the requirements to continue living a defeated life, one filled with sin and troubles that torment our souls. That is what Walter Hawkins was talking about in the song “Changed.” This morning we are going to explore the answer to the question of how someone can be dead and not know it and why others who know them do not seem to notice that they are dead. At the close of this message I hope that you will recognize that when you too accepted Christ you died and therefore a change came over you too.