When out for my regular early morning walk today, one of the collared doves that are common in this area flew in front of me with a twig in its mouth. This brought to mind the biblical story of Noah and the return of the dove that he had sent out, the bird on this occasion carrying back a freshly plucked olive leaf in its mouth (Genesis 8:11). This was a transition moment for Noah and his family, indicating that the flood waters had receded and it was time to prepare for a new start.
Choices
Spiritual transformations begin with a moment of transition, a decision, a step of faith. This isn’t something that we bring about ourselves, but rather a response to the Spirit of God. That said, I suspect that many people do try to bring such things about by their own efforts. We might conclude that we want to be more committed or more ‘holy’, even. We might feel that we want to aim for some form of Christian ministry, whether within our own local fellowship or beyond. We might decide ……. something – a little like the man in Jesus’ parable of the rich fool, found in Luke 12:16-21. Faced with an abundant harvest, he decided to tear down his inadequate barns and build bigger ones to store the crops, and then to relax. This didn’t turn out so well for him!
Many people try to make things happen, to become something, but that tactic simply doesn’t work in the spiritual realm, in the kingdom of God. Yes, there might be an appearance of success, but God knows the heart of a man. See Luke 16:15
Inflexion point
Psalm 127 begins: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.” This is never more true than in the work of God’s kingdom, whether within our own lives or any ‘ministry’ that we undertake.
Let’s think about those areas of spiritual transformation that we ourselves have undergone, or that God may be calling us to experience. The first is salvation. This doesn’t happen by attending church meetings or reading books. It doesn’t even come about by studying the Bible. Salvation is the work of the Spirit of God. It is only at his prompting that we can come to the place of transition, where we acknowledge our failure, sin and shame, and throw ourselves upon God’s mercy, accepting forgiveness and a new life through what Jesus did when he died in our place on the cross. For some, this is a dramatic breaking point that stands out very clearly as a milestone in their lives. Others may come to the same place, but more gradually, crumbling in their response with a gentle, but no less true acceptance. In whatever way this occurs, it is an inflexion point, the result of a clear decision on our part. We move from death to life; our eternal destiny switches from hell to heaven. But just as importantly, a spiritual light comes on in our soul; we have entered into a relationship with God himself.
Floating
That said, we need to think now about the extent of that relationship. Some nine months after becoming a Christian, I reached another decision point. I was fully committed to serving God, but things were feeling a little like hard work – I felt that I was trying to make things happen, but that the Christian life should be easier. Have you ever felt like that?
I had heard about the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and came to the conclusion that this was what I needed to ask God for. I knew that baptism in the New Testament involved being totally immersed in water. I also knew that bodies float in water. So, my reasoning was that Holy Spirit baptism would remove any requirement to strive, and that I would be ‘kept afloat’ by the Spirit of God. This is something that I felt a need for and that I wanted, so I simply asked God to do this and trusted that, as with salvation, when I asked, I would receive. For some, this is a dramatic experience, but for me it was something that I simply took on faith and awaited the outworking of. What I expected would happen did come about, and more than I had anticipated. Baptism with the Holy Spirit was transformational for me.
Obediance
There is another transition point that we all have to face, whether we commit to this or not. That is the Lordship of Jesus. Every Christian calls Jesus ‘Lord’, but that isn’t the same as granting him that position in our lives. Two aspects of the gospel were explained to me before I received salvation. The first was about repentance and forgiveness; the second was about Jesus becoming my Lord. I weighed lordship very carefully, considering what this might entail in practice, and whether I would be prepared to follow how God might guide me. I thought about my work life, my career, and I thought about the decision about who to marry. I was willing to trust God with these areas. I then considered what might be the most extreme thing that he could ask of me, namely, to serve as a missionary to some remote area of the world. If this was his plan for me, would I be prepared to go? On the basis that I had been told that God loved me and had a purpose for my life, my answer was yes. If those things were true, and I had become convinced that they were, then surely I could trust him. Truly giving Jesus the position of Lord in our lives is another transition point. We may struggle with this in practice as time passes, but it is hugely important to come to that genuine, initial decision. If we don’t, then our attitude is surely that our obedience depends upon what he asks of us and whether we feel like obeying.
Transformation
There is one further transition point for consideration, which we might consider to be a combination, or a culmination, of the three already discussed. This is a willingness to be released from what we think we are supposed to be and to do, and to accept the path that God wants us to take. You may feel that you are on a treadmill, busily engaged in Christian activity that is unfulfilling, or that you are striving to meet the expectations of others, or those that others have taught you to expect of yourself. God is not the God of the treadmill; neither does he ever call us to be people of the treadmill (see Galatians 5:1). Occasionally, we simply need to take the time to do business with God, talking through how we feel and asking him to speak to us and show us what it is that he is actually calling us to do. Maybe he wants you to let go of what you have been holding onto and embrace just what he will tell you to do and to be. Such a transition opens the door for transformation.
Conclusion
What is the next step for you, the next transition point? Are you open to trusting God with that? Are you ready for an adventure of faith? Transition points are doorways that open into transformation – if we want change, then we need to open them and walk through (see Revelation 3:20).
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