Change

(Originally posted July 8, 2014)

So as some of you may know, a couple weeks ago I was at Student Life camp in Myrtle Beach, SC. It was absolutely amazing. Not going to get into too much detail, because let's be honest... You probably don't care that much. Anyways, David Platt (the camp pastor for this particular week) made an analogy and I thought it would be great to share with all of you. So here goes.

Imagine you're driving down the road. All of a sudden, you hear *bump, bump, bump*. You soon realize you have a flat tire! Luckily, you have a spare and already know how to change one. So here you are, outside of your car, next to the emergency lane, minding your own business while switching tires and here comes A MASSIVE SEMI. LIKE HUGE. 16 WHEELS. And it hits you! Miraculously, you live of course. I'm not just going to kill off your character like that! But the point is, you're gonna look a little different to say the least. 

This is how people should see us after we accept Christ. Not messed up looking, but different. They should be able to look at us and see that we have 1. Changed and 2. Look differently than everyone else. This is what Jesus does to us. He completely turns our whole universe upside down!

So first of all, whether you got hit by a bus or got smacked in the face by the Holy Spirit, homegirl (or homeboy) is gonna look different than before. You're gonna look at them and notice a change. This change may be verbal. Maybe he/she typically uses fowl language; that should change. Perhaps it's the way they dressed. Maybe it's just the way they portrayed themselves (or others!) before. It could even be mentally. Their whole demeanor and attitude should have some kind of adjustment made to it. Either way, some kind of change should be evident!

Lastly, (yes I'm almost done). So people notice a change. But you can change from one way to another and still fit in. The thing is: don't. We weren't made to fit in. We were called to be bold. To make a difference and an impact. You can't do this by being mediocre. You must be different. If you don't stand out, people aren't going to notice you. I, myself, don't like bringing attention to myself but yet being different and not conforming doesn't necessarily mean putting the spotlight on yourself. It's the opposite. We should focus on others and shine the light on God. 

One of my all time favorite verses is Romans 12:2:

(New Living Trans.) 

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

(English Standard Vers.)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.