Be Transformed!

Be Transformed!

This is the longing of every wholehearted disciple of Jesus Christ; namely to be conformed to the image of Christ, to be “trans­formed into the same image from glory to glory.” 2 Cor. 3:18. In Romans 12:2 it is written, “Be trans­formed by the renewing of your mind . . . .” Or as it states so simply and easy to understand in another translation: “Be transformed by the renewing of your thoughts. Be transformed! We can just as well say, “Be good! Be happy! . . . by the renewing of your thoughts!”

Further on in verse 2 we read, “That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Here we can see the purpose of having our thoughts renewed. The intention is that we do what is perfect in each circum­stance—doing and saying what is acceptable to the Lord. Of course there will be no transformation if this is not the aim of our thoughts in both small and great, regardless of how much we wish to be trans­formed.

Further on we read an exhorta­tion about not thinking more highly about ourselves than we ought to think, according to our measure of faith. V. 3. This pertains to the thoughts we have about ourselves. This is also where we find one of the mysteries that leads to a trans­formed life: namely, that we think the right thoughts about ourselves.

What does a person think of himself when he is angry, offended, or feels that his honor has been touched? Or who does a person think he is when he backbites and criticizes and judges left and right? How much honor and respect does a person think is due him when he seeks the honor of man?

Now we understand why we are exhorted to think soberly about our­selves and be renewed in our mind. We cannot possibly be conformed to the image of the Son if we maintain our old way of thinking. We must be renewed in our mind if we want to become good, righteous, and happy. We must learn to think what is right about ourselves.

When we read Paul’s testimony in Romans 7, we can see the sober thoughts he had about himself. He was aware that nothing good dwelt in his flesh, and that the evil was present. He observed another law in his members in the midst of delight­ing in God’s law. He even says, “O wretched man that I am!” This was a part of his thought life. These are examples of the sober thoughts he had about himself, these renewed thoughts that caused him to be transformed and filled with good­ness, righteousness, and joy.

He had to testify (for the Cor­inthians’ sake) that he had labored more than they all. But then he added: “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Cor. 15:10. These are new thoughts as opposed to human thoughts about the honor and respect that is “due me.” When he (in 1 Timothy 1:16) writes that Jesus Christ had shown him all longsuffering, then this was evidence of the renewal of his mind by which he himself was transformed to be longsuffering and merciful.

“If anyone is in Christ . . . old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”! This is what is written in 2 Corinthians 5:17. All things have become new! That begins in our thought life. If in our thoughts we reproach and blame the others in life’s situations, then everything is still old. How can we then expect that everything will become new? It is a totally new thought when we judge ourselves in life’s various situations. It is a new mind! And it says so blessedly: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind!” Then transformation is possible! Transformation into the image of the Son of God, from glory to glory!