Transformation and Change

"Everybody wants to be transformed, but nobody wants to change" - Frederica Mathewes-Green (BeliefNet video: Fasting To Gain Self-Control).

If I were to put the statement above in my own words, I would say, "Everyone wants the resurrection, but nobody wants the cross". All of us want the glory, the power, the easy kindness of Christ, the gifts, the blessings and the gifts (and I'm not necessarily referring to the spectacular, the glorious, and the magnificent), but we all want it without cost, without a battle, without Gethsemane, without having to give up anything, without any discomfort - without the cross. I'm that way, too. But, in truth, authentic Christianity can not be experienced without experiencing the cross in our daily lives.

Biblically, transformation is something done to us by Another, God the Holy Spirit. We cooperate by two means: 1) gazing on Christ, and 2) agreeing with Him. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed (passive tense; something done to us) into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this come from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18, ESV). "Be transformed (again, passive tense) by the renewal of your mind" (Rom. 12:2, ESV). While gazing on Jesus, the Spirit transforms us into His image and likeness. But the renewing of our mind requires that, as Christ reveals to us His mind on a matter, we agree with Him and adopt His mind as our own. This is the meaning of the word, confess, in the scriptures: to agree with. That's simple enough. But what about change?

Change happens as we embrace the cross. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). What is the cross? Anything or anyone that brings my choices down to this: my way or His way? my life or His life? my comfort or His pleasure? my will or Your will? Really, the question always comes down to: me or You?

Only a few verses before, Jesus tells the disciples that he's going to the cross. Peter, who just moments earlier was given the awesome revelation and confession that Jesus was the Messiah, rebukes the Lord for speaking about the cross and says, "God forbid it! This will never happen to you" (Matt. 16:22). In so many words, Peter was saying, "What you're saying is not of God! And besides, I will never let this happen to you." Jesus' response is sharp and deliberate: "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" (Mark 8:33). Ouch! Then, He says the verse quote in the paragraph above: If you want to follow me, take up your cross - don't avoid it.

As we embrace the cross, we simply say, "Yes!" to Him, to His way, to His satisfaction. And when we say yes to Him, He says yes to us. The cross is the door to the experience of the resurrection. The cross is the way of change. When we refuse the cross, we refuse to change. When we embrace the cross, we agree with Him and we change. Through the cross, we come face to face with the biggest changes needed in us: trusting obedience and humility. The cross is God giving to us the biggest opportunity for real and lasting change. And it's always our choice.

Transformation is easy; just gaze and agree. Change is hard...but it's necessary...and it's worth it.