What if I don’t feel changed, transformed, or new?

Good evening everyone. This season we’re answering questions that you guys asked in a series called “Candid.” Our question today is “What’s wrong if I don’t feel transformed?” What do they mean? When you give your life to Jesus, the Bible says that we will be made into a new creation. In other words, we’ll be transformed. Changed. But, what happens when you don’t feel changed, or transformed or made new?

I want to start today’s discussion with two stories…

First story is from a time where laws worked very differently and this man who made it his life’s mission to throw a certain group of people into prison - even though they didn’t break any laws. This man, he was the best of the best in his community. He was a leader, he was smart, people respected and loved him. He embodied his people’s history and culture. So, when another group came to town, this man felt like his group was being threatened. Rather than sitting around, the man got up and started hunting down the new people, throwing them into prison and sometimes even killing them. And it wasn’t just in this man’s home-town, he went all around the country doing it.

That is, until, He encountered Jesus. Can you guess who I’m talking about?

That’s right, it’s the Apostle Paul. And when Paul met Jesus, his life completely changed forever. He went from hunting down Christians, to converting people into Christianity and planting churches. He went from being loved and respected in the Jewish community, to being beaten and hated. All because Jesus changed him.

Our second story is about Abraham. See, Abraham met God when he was 70 years old. And when you follow along Genesis 12-25 you’ll find that Abraham’s story is 30 plus years of mistake, after mistake. When God said follow me, Abraham changes course into Egypt. Even though God promises to protect Abraham, Abraham lies to try to save his life, twice. Even though Go promised Abraham a son, Abraham went and had a child with another woman that wasn’t his wife. Over and over, Abraham makes big mistakes all throughout his journey with God. Yet in Romans 4:3 we learn that Abraham was righteous through faith.

Here we have two stories - one is about Paul’s complete 180 transformation after encountering Jesus, and the other looks like a much wider turn in direction. Who do you identify with; Paul or Abraham?

I know that for myself, I identify with Abraham’s story. I gave my life to Jesus when I was 11 years old but my life didn’t transform overnight. I struggled with swearing, I was a bully, I loved to fight people, I disrespected my parents, I abandoned things, I hid things from people. If someone were to ask me how Jesus changed my life when I was a teenager, I would have a hard time giving an answer. However, as time went on, I did start to notice a change in me. Other people noticed too. I stopped swearing, I stopped hurting people, I stopped hiding things from people. But the transformation didn’t stop there, because then I began to encourage people, I began helping people and I began proclaiming the truth. But that’s not the end either, because not only did my actions change, my heart changed too, I went from being the most important person in my world, to being the least. God became the most important, and then everyone else after. Even today, after 19 years of being a Christian, I am still being transformed. And that leads us to our first answer to the question:

Why don’t I feel changed, transformed, or new?

Our first answer is: maybe the change in your life isn’t something you can feel yet? God transforms some people like Paul - drastic and instant. Others (like me) are transformed like Abraham - slow and steady. Neither is more powerful or better than the other! But one is easier to observe and feel. The other takes time - you just need to hold on and remain faithful to God for the time when your transformation can be felt and observed. Additionally, sometimes we’re not the best at observing ourselves - Has anyone ever said to you “Woah, you look so different from the last time I saw you!?” But you didn’t notice because seeing yourself everyday makes you unaware of the small, daily changes? If you’re curious about yourself, ask someone you trust if they’ve seen a change in you. One thing you can be assured of is that the Bible promises transformation. If the Holy Spirit is in you, you will be transformed, whether fast or slow! In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul tells us about the fruits of the Spirit…

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

What do the fruits of the Spirit mean? The word fruit functions like the “mark” or “evidence” of the Spirit. If the God, the Holy Spirit, is in you. These qualities will grow like fruits in your life.

Which leads us to our second answer and it is a bit more challenging: If you’re not feeling changed or transformed, and for a long time neither is your spiritual mentor. Then you need to ask yourself “Did I really make Jesus my savior AND LORD? Which means, if you say you’re following Him, then are you obeying His commands? Are you including Jesus more and more into your life? Are you giving Jesus space and authority to transform you? 1 Corinthians 14:1 says…

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

and in Philippians 4:8 we read…

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

All to say that transformation is something you also need to desire and chase after! Then you might ask, doesn’t that mean we’re transforming ourselves and not Jesus? No, because without Jesus and the Holy Spirit, you wouldn’t even have the strength of will or body to make these kinds of life changes that lead to transformation. Transformation is not something that Jesus drags you into. Transformation is the product of your living relationship with Jesus.