True Transformation- Change for God, not for People

I have been meaning to address this issue for weeks now. I have noticed that many people in this world are so oblivious to even the fundamentals of the bible (the basics).

Many of my friends around me have grown up in a Christian home. Their parents have tried their best to make sure that they know who Jesus is and that they attend church regularly.

However, among all these people I have noticed how very little they know about the depths of scripture. Granted, if you were to ask them a political question, or a question about the latest gossip they would be talking for days. But Jesus is far from their hearts and they have little to no interest in following him.

In the last year or so God has been working inside and out in my life. He has been working overtime to help me shape up and bring myself back in his presence. The last 6-8 months have been filled with trials and tribulations. But at the end of the tunnel there’s a light- and its God waiting for me to make my way towards him.

I remember the night of my conversion, my rebirth, the day I decided I had been walking astray for too long, I got down on my knees and decided to pray. Now this prayer was much different than the usual prayer, Because this time around my intentions were pure. I truly wanted to be free of the sin in my life. Many people go through life thinking that sin is inevitable. If you are a human you will sin.

I remember my prayer, standing there in front of God and knowing that I had hit rock bottom, that I was no longer able to deal with the hurt, the pain, the torture in my life. The sin had began to strangle me in my life, and the only way to be free was to come to Christ and release this burden.

I remember the feeling in my heart as I stood there thinking to myself- I am done, I hate my life, I need to be renewed, I choose you God, I allow you to be the leader of my life (I know many of you Calvinists will say- “No, God chose you, you didn’t choose him…”). Well, to be quite honest I felt that to have the ultimate connection, I had to fully give myself over to God. I had to release all the sin, I wasn’t allowed to hold on to any of it! This focal point was what made the difference.

Instead of saying, God forgive me…. please help me “try” and stay pure, and Good. I said- “God I know you have given us the power through your Holy Spirit to be sin free, Please give me this power in my life, and renew my heart. I want to submit myself fully to you. I want you to renew my heart, and give me the ability to live for you…”

The difference in these prayers is that my prayer had confidence, it showed certainty of faith. And instead of doubting myself, I actually was confident in Christ. And guess what happen next…?

I was set free…I could feel the release and the break away from the shackles that had been strangling me. I know many people say I felt this too when I repented. Well, this wasn’t just an ordinary repentance. This was the decision that I was going to follow God.

How many of you went into your repentance with the understanding it was a lifetime commitment? Many people treat repentance as a Joke, as if they did it to blow off some steam, and forget it ever happen. God does not take that very lightly, he wants us to be committed. Similarly to how we as humans want our spouses to be loyal, God wants us to serve him and only him. `

If we enter into marriage with the mentality that it will last as long as the person is worth your while, you will set yourself up for failure. Its like a self fulfilling prophecy. Once the skepticism has entered the brain you have already weakened the marriage. We are to approach marriage with the intent of being together forever.

We are to approach Gods presence with the intent we will serve him forever, not that we will use him when it is convenient, when it makes sense. When we aren’t too busy…..

Who are we fooling, do you honestly think God doesn’t know your heart, that He doesn’t see what your motives are..? Are you looking for a way out, or an investment, a means to an end..?

God wants us to come to him with a pure heart, with the intentions of sticking around and actually growing…Actually becoming stable Christians, not just to test the waters, and when things get shaky we run.

If you bail in the first trial then you weren’t serious to begin with. God wants us to stand strong…to be courageous and fight in the Spiritual battle.

So if you have committed your life to God don’t take that lightly. Grow in Him, share the truth, go tell people the good news….The gospel needs to be heard and spread not kept quiet.

So although I have prayed the prayer of repentance many times in my life, it is only effective when we actually decide to take it serious. To be committed to him. When we make the ultimate decision to not turn away no matter what, God will reward us in life…..

So remember next time you are tempted to walk off the path of righteousness. God wants us to stay pure in him, that way we become the light for the dark, so people can’t say, how is he any different…?he does the same thing we do….that way people can say, there is something different about him, he has this undeniable love in his life, God does really dwell in him, I really really want that….that is when our life becomes a true testimony for people.

that is the ultimate goal….