Transformations are beautiful. I love shows like the Biggest Loser, because it shows changed
life. Every person who tries and listens to what they do on the show changes
their life for the better. I think it’s the reason health pills focuses so much
on people who lose great amounts of weight. Why they showed Jared wearing the
huge pants he used to fit into is a huge change video. Christianity is about
transformation.
Paul was once a murderer of Christians and now he is one.
Paul used to be called Saul and Saul was one of the people known for trying to
stop the church from going, he was one of the people that persecuted the
church. For people following Christ he had them thrown into jail. He did not
approve of Christians and what they stood for. He was one who witnessed Steven
being stoned to death. He was not a good person towards Christians and was
looked as one if not the main enemies of Christianity.
1 Corinthians 15:9…
“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve
to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
Paul realizes the wrong things he did, but he changed. Verse
10…”But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not with
effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that
was with me.”
Now Paul is not gloating here. This dude traveled more,
suffered a ton more opposition, wrote a ton of the New Testament and created
more churches. He knew it wasn’t him but God that caused all this to happen.
A murderer to a missionary. What an amazing story. All the
time it’s amazing to see the transformation of Christ. At Central Michigan University, there was a guy that was a standout
guy. He was an awesome person someone who everyone in the class just enjoyed.
On the outside it seemed like this guy would be the party of the campus. Then we
talked about faith and I told him I was a Christian. He said that was awesome
and he was too! He said he owes the rest of his life to God. He went on to tell
me his life story.
He went through high school and the start of college as a
big partier. It got to the point he started hitting harder drugs on a
consistent basis and it was starting to destroy his life. It was while he was
getting high as he realized he was starting to get addicted to this. He said he
never prayed and was at a point while getting high that he prayed. He said God
I need you to take this from me otherwise I am going down a road I can’t travel
back from. At that point he felt the presence of God with him and it changed him
forever. He no longer had the desire to get high anymore. He started attending
church and the reason he is still here today and doing well is nothing short
then the grace of God.
God can transform. Jesus gives us grace to overcome what
once held us down. I have seen God transform some of the most vilest/worst
people and give them a second chance. God turned Paul from a murderer of
Christians to an amazing apostle of Jesus. God can transform us when we give
our lives over to him.
Faith is powerful and can change us for the better. If you
need a fresh start, another chance at life or the opportunity to make a
difference in your life or others, Jesus gives us that chance.
Jesus transformed me and can do the same for you. Have a
great day.
