Sometimes we feel like we can’t change. We think to ourselves that we are far too set in our ways to ever live differently. Some of us just feel too weak to start anew. Years have come and gone and habits have only grown deeper. You’re asking me to change? I can’t. Not anymore.
“Impossibility” in Christians is of course wrong thinking. Before I say anything substantial, it is a fact that everyone can change to some degree. If people who do not know the Lord can change behaviour by sheer will and conditioning then those who know the Lord of Renewal and Transformation can change too. We can at least say that much.
Have you ever wondered, How did little Zaccheus change? He’s a good example. How did this greedy tax collector suddenly let go of his love for riches and more importantly how did he break through all those years of built up habit? He did not become a slave of money and a traitor to his people overnight. His roots grew into the lifestyle over many, many years. And yet, beyond all expectation, when Jesus appeared, his heart gave way… something inside of him changed drastically and the next thing he did was 180 degrees opposite from what he had been accustomed to, indeed what he could not help but do for so many years. Instead of hoarding and stealing money, he gave it all away.
Real change, not behavior modification, happens when God sheds a piercing light into the heart. Real change happens when we at last see and savor the Glory of Christ. I’m going to say that again. When we AT LAST! SEE! and SAVOR! the GLORY! of CHRIST! Because in that beautiful realization, that the God of the universe is standing before us, the sheer weight of His Divine presence lifts our thoughts like a mighty current away from our finite, weak, selves and causes us to dwell upon the infinite, omnipotent, GOD who is calling us to walk with Him. I bet that’s what Zaccheus felt as he stared into the face of his Maker. He couldn’t think of his habits now and the influence they had over him. He could only think …”Oh my God.”
The strength to start something in the heart, happens not by the ability or will of man but by the ability and will of a Supreme Being named Jesus. We are no longer dealing with the power of habit now. We are dealing with the infinite power of God.
Let’s compare two verses. The first describes the ability of man and the second, the ability of God.
The Ability of Man:
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin
Or the leopard his spots?
Then you also can do good
Who are accustomed to doing evil. ”
(Jer 13:23 NAS95S)
The Ability of God:
“ And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath , even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ”
(Eph 2:1-10 NAS95S)
If God is real, we can all change.
amen ta that!
(YAY ephesians!)
yo man. i miss having u around. just wanted to let u know that i still read these and i pray for your time over there whenever i can. if u’ve got the time to post/send emails, write on.
a simple response to ur post about weeping during worship: in the beginning (as in Freshmen year), the tears were probably an expression of sorrow for my sin in the light of God’s holiness described in the songs. Whether or not that sorrow became actual repentance in my life is the main theme of a book called, “Beland’s Sanctification.” or “Beland Kampf.” I sometimes wondered if Isaiah wept like crazy when he saw God in Is. 6, whether or not there was any heavenly music playing. maybe the music, the emotions, the surroundings, the people intensified or perhaps even exaggerated my response, but i’m certain that if it were up to myself flesh, I would not be convicted of my sin, let alone weep because of my understanding of the eternal consequences of sin against the Holy God that I love.
But over the next few years, I think reasons for weeping changed as my understanding of the gospel matured. Largely because of your influence, we prayed, we read from Scripture, we read from theological works, we talked, we dreamed, we joked, we even put up a banquet with the theme of future glory and the believer’s hope in Christ’s return. I still wept because of sorrow and guilt over sin, but increasingly, the tears were of joy derived from a greater understanding grace and greater treasuring of our eternal inheritance. Among many others, “the Prize of My Life” became a worship song that very fittingly expressed the transformation of attitude that God wrought in me since our very first GOC worship set:
“There is none who compares with You
on the earth or the skies above
Lord, I long to be near to You
You’re my greatest Joy
My highest Love
You are my glorious Prize, Father
You are the passion that fills my life
My treasure of treasures
A wealth without measaure to me
and You’ll ALWAYS BE the Prize of my life.”
I don’t weep as much during songs now, probably because of a mix of complacency and maturity (not that tears are genuine expressions of anything). But to this day, my heart is especially moved when I sing songs with eschatological notions, and the initial response in my mind and heart is usually followed by a louder voice, raising of hands, sometimes tears, and speaking in tongues. Ok, not the last one.
I could never see if you were tearing up while playing guitar on stage, but I remember during last year’s banquet, when we tried to select songs that point to future glory, it was hard to concentrate on playing while trying stop myself from throwing the guitar away and lift my hands at certain parts of the song. Maybe we’re Charismatics. Anyway, I miss singing next to you and steve at GOC/Crossroads and group hugs after future glory prayer meetings. Take care over there and keep reminding everyone around the imminence of Christ’s return.
“in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8
dude i didn’t know it was that long. might as well steal it and post it on my empty blog as a filler. haha
for sure. (finally got around to reading it bc the other night i just skimmed the blog). i honestly don’t remember too much of our convo concerning this — i think it was mainly banter. but yeah! i agree! just working on getting rid of the lie that i can’t change and grasp onto the truth that (by Christ’s victory and walking in the Spirit) i can live in *consistent* victory over sin!! behold! new things have come! wheeee…