Being Transformed....

I like to refurbish furniture.  I like to take the old and make it look it new.  I find something very calming and exciting in working on furniture.  It can be hard work.  Furniture has to be stripped of old paint, stain or varnish, then sanded...and sanded...and sanded some more until is smooth and all sanding dust has been completely wiped off the piece.  Any seat covers or seat backs have to be recovered.  There may be repairs that have to be made to the piece.  Then the new paint, stain, or varnish has to be applied.  The end result is always worth the effort. Always.  

One of the things that I love about refinishing and refurbishing furniture is the fact that it mirrors our transformation through our walk with Christ.  When we come to Christ through salvation, we come to Him in a sinful nature.  As we walk out our salvation and let the Holy Spirit grow in us the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22 - 24), we begin to look differently to those around us.  Our words begin to be less harsh and we start speaking in love.  Our actions begin to reflect the actions we are asked to portray in the Word of God.  All of these things are what set those who live for Christ apart from the world.    Paul told the Romans:

Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 

We should not blend in to the world through having the same actions, words, or participate in the same activities.  We should be transformed into the new creation we are made upon salvation.  I have a good example of transformation.  

I refinished a piece of furniture a few weeks ago that turned out to look nothing like the original piece:

What started as an old, tired, filthy cabinet ended up looking like a new piece of furniture.  It should be the same way in our lives.  We should begin to look differently than those around us...than those that belong to the world and the kingdom of darkness.  We should look differently than those that choose to know what is good but continue to sin (James 4:17).

Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart today and every day.  Renew  your mind every day through prayer and reading the Word of God. Ask the Lord to reveal to you areas in your heart that need transformation.  While it may be a painful process, the end result will be worth it.  Always.