When people are asked to quote a line from Shakespeare, most certainly, they will quote the best-known line from all drama or literature: “To be or not to be, that is the question!”
Though the tragedy of Hamlet, prince of Denmarke is a philosophical quest in the comparison between the pain of life and the fear of the uncertainty of death, we can also look into this phrase as a paradigm of our own existence.
Let me clarify this: ‘To be or not to be?’ is a question all of us need to ask ourselves time and times again as we think who we are and who God wants us to be.
Why is this so important? Because if we don’t know the difference between of who we are and who God wants us to be, will affect our decision making, our relationships and our lives in general.
It is a Biblical principle that we all need to attain to. Many times we read about transformation and Paul is clear about that in his teachings:
“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 know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” Romans 12:2 NLT
Friends we are born into a defective life style. Into a world that is corrupted by its sinfulness and it all affect us even before we are born, both emotionally and physically.
That’s why we see so much brokenness in people’s lives. Our choices many times are based on the training and learning experiences we had in our earlier years of life.
In defense of our parents, let me say this: Even though they tried their best to teach us well, they also were affected by the negative influence of the sin in this world, which affected their own education in their upbringing.
And just like a chain reaction, something that may have influenced them wrongly could not be fixed by itself without the intervention of something, and in this case, Someone greater than themselves.
And it is one of the basic reasons God has sent His Son, so that you and I could learn what is right and what is wrong and make a comparison between who we are when we met Jesus and allow the right changes to take place within our hearts.
You probably have read this passage before: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (she) is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Now listen to the same passage through the New Living Translation: “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
It is true that God can transform a person in one night as a matter of fact He can do the same in one minute and you become a new creation if you allow Him to do so in you.
However for many of us because of our reluctance in letting go our old self, we find ourselves struggling here and there without much change in whom we are and consequently in our quality of life, which affects also those around us in our relationships.
Now, Paul challenges us in our Scritpure reading today to be transformed in the likeness of the One who know us and knows how far we can change and how much better we can become.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 ESV
What this passage is teaching us today is that life is not about you. Life is not about what you think or what you do. Life is not about your choices or what you like or what you don’t like to do. Life is about the will of God and His will in your life.
Jesus was in heaven reigning supreme as Creator and King and yet He chooses to come down to this broken and corrupted world because of His love for you and to fulfill the will of this Father in His life.
He came so that you could make a comparison between your life and His life and choose to follow His footsteps by first allowing Him to change you from the inside out.
This is what being a Christian means. We are not perfect but day after day we seek to become in the likeness of Christ, transformed by His teachings and character.
Listen to this quote that I found: “By conversion and transformation men are to receive the mind of Christ. Everyone is to stand before God with an individual faith, an individual experience, knowing for himself that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. For us to imitate the example of any man, even one whom we might regard as nearly perfect in character, would be to put our trust in a defective human being, one who is unable to impart a jot or tittle of perfection.” Ellen G. White (The Signs of the Times, September 3, 1902)
At the risk of sound judgmental, which is not my intention, we found ourselves in a world where the role models of our society are celebrities filled with their own brokenness to whom people look up to without realizing that they are not the best example to be followed.
Friends, this is the time for you to choose to change your life. Wherever you are right now let me make it clear to you: it is not enough yet for in this life we need to be transformed by the Holy Spirit every day, every hour and may be every minute.
It must be a constant seeking in allowing God to transform us from the inside out so that we may have an abundant life that will overflow and reflect His character in us.
Let me tell you just one more thing: This daily transformation must be a conscientious choice in changing for better. A change from who we are to a person who God wants us to be.
This conscientious change has to take place by applying what you listen and read in the scripture to your own life; otherwise what you learn will be only useless head knowledge.
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls. 22 And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. 23 For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:21-24 NLT
So, the question is still the same: “To be or not to be… what God wants you to be? That is the question!”
May God grant you the will and the perseverance to seek His face and allow Him to change you in a better, more excellent person who will reflect His likeness.
