Changes
Happy New Year! It seems like each January we are faced with changes. That word change has been in the news much lately. Each of the presidential candidates claims they are the one who will bring change to our country. On a personal level, lots of people make resolutions in January, things in our lives that we want to change. Last year I wanted to improve my health so I decided to eat more healthy foods, to stop drinking diet sodas so I also stopped eating most processed and artificial foods. Over all, I kept most of the resolution, I do occasionally treat myself to a Coke Zero or some unhealthy treat though. This year I didn’t make any resolutions, It’s not that I don’t have things in my life that I need to change, I just didn’t have anything major come to mind (yet!).
I think that when we put our mind to changing something in our life, we have to be careful. I think it’s good to try and change the inappropriate or bad things, but I don’t know if you are anything like me, but when I make up my mind to change something, it almost seems as though the FOCUS on that very thing makes it an obsession and almost harder to kick. If you have every tried to diet, it seems as soon as you start, everyone has goodies to share, if you try and quit smoking, it seems that all you can think about is your next cigarette.
I key word here is FOCUS. Where are we focusing when we try to change? Usually it’s on ourselves and the very habit or behavior we want to change. What I would like to suggest to you in our effort to change is moving our focus from us or our habit or behavior or addiction, and shifting it to God and what brings him the most glory. You might be familiar with this passage from 2 Corinthians 3:17: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. It’s a popular passage with teachers and students of the word who are trying to break free of something or make a change in their lives. It was even made into a popular song a couple of years ago, the worship leader would sing “Where the Spirit of the Lord is” and the worshipers would yell “There is Freedom” But I would like us to keep reading in 2 Corinthians on to the next verse (18) And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s gory, are being transformed (changed) into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Let’s look at this passage more closely. Who are those with unveiled faces? It’s those of us who have a relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the veil that separated people from God was torn. We are able to have a close personal relationship with God. Our faces are unveiled in his presence. Our unveiled face has no covering; it is not masked from God. There are no secrets; nothing is kept back. We lay it all out before our Father.
Our text says those of us with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory and are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory. When we contemplate, we think about it. I often think about the Glory of the Lord. What does it mean, The Lord’s Glory? It’s hard to describe. God does everything for his Glory, his own sake. God’s glory is represented by his presence such as in the pillar of fire or the cloud the Israelites experienced in the wilderness. God’s glory is his famousness, his splendor his greatness. His Awesomeness. When we contemplate his glory, we think about his renown and power. In 2 Peter 1:3 & 4, the Bible tells us that His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness his glory, his power, his Holiness along with his goodness to us. It goes on to say through these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires. We can participate, partner with God, share with him, as we reflect on his glory we can escape the corruption of evil desires. Aren’t those evil desires the root of many of the things that we are trying to change in our lives? Our evil desires cause us to mistreat our bodies, to bring heartache and pain to those around us by our actions, this evil part of our nature shows itself in our greed and gluttony, it paves the way for the sins that separate us from God.
But when we are able to focus on what brings glory to God, when we think about his power and glory that we can participate in through his Son Jesus, we take the focus of ourselves and change becomes possible, we can become transformed into his image.
This Power to be transformed is available to us, it’s at work in us. Consider Ephesians 3:20 & 21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
Transformation takes place when we allow God control. When we want to please God we stop repeating or duplicating the things that don’t bring God glory. It happens when we realize that we have the power of God inside of us to do amazing things, more than we can ask or imagine. Jesus changed lots of people in the bible, the demon possessed man, the woman at the well, the blind the deaf the sick and sinful. Think of Mary Magdalene a demon possessed woman who was transformed into a devoted disciple and follower, think too of Peter, too scared to admit knowing Christ, yet transformed into a powerful preacher bringing many to repentance and baptism.
To him be the glory! This power to change, to transform comes only through our knowledge of him who does call us by his own glory and goodness, yet this power is available to all who call on him. If you are in need of change and you have found yourself unable to do so on your own, this should be the year you give God the glory he deserves, give God your focus. When God revealed just a little part of his glory to Moses on the mountain top, Moses was so changed and radiated so much of God’s glory that, his face shone. What an amazing change!
Like the people unable to look upon Moses, and how Moses couldn’t see but a passing glimpse of the Glory of God, we may not be able to understand the Glory of God or how we are able to participate in anyway in that Glory, it’s like trying to explain water’s wetness or the sun’s brightness, no words can really explain it. But Moses did receive clear instructions from God, when he sought the glory of God, he found himself in the very presence of God, in a covenant relationship. This relationship gave Moses the power to drive out enemies, to lead people to live up to everything God had believed possible for his life. That divine power is also available to you, it’s already at work inside you.
We can experience God’s glory in our life, we can live in such a way to have that power manifested in our lives. We need to seek the glory of God. I believe if we do, we too will be transformed and walk in freedom and power with unveiled faces we will come away changed so much that our faces will shine and the world will know that we have had a life changing experience with God. Amen.
