Christians want to see the world transformed
This isn’t unique to one tradition, culture, or theological persuasion.
All of us have felt the sting of the impact of our broken world in our personal lives. The betrayal of a friend, the loss of a loved one, and the consequences of your own selfishness are tangible signs.
But have you considered how you were born into a broken world? The history of humanity is riddled with examples of evil, injustice, and brokenness. We’ve inherited a situation where all is not well.
And as Christians, we long for the world to be made new.
One that is free to flourish as God intended and to be full of people living in joyful communion with Jesus.
But how do we do this?
Transformed by the transformed
Last week I heard a friend say,
“Transformed people, transform people.”
It can sound a bit cliche but this little phrase contains a massive truth. If we want to make the world a better reflection of the kingdom of God, God’s kingdom must first reorient our own lives.
Our own kingdoms must fall.
Of our own sins must, we must.
Our own hearts must find a new home.
In order to change others, we must be changed ourselves. We must do hard, internal, ongoing work with the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus.
But that’s not all.
The real renewal
Real renewal comes from Jesus.
He is the one who’s been working in the world far longer than we have. He’s the one who is making all things new.
So our inner transformation isn’t to fix others—it’s to draw near to Jesus.
It’s our chance to open ourselves up to his mercy and join him in his redemptive work.
So we transform ourselves, yes. But we do it by tethering ourselves more and more to Jesus. Letting him lead the way in renewing creation.
Maybe this is the key to ushering in the goodness our world is so desperate for. Maybe by simply transforming ourselves, abstaining from evil, and loving God and neighbor, we’ll start to see Jesus already at work.
By being transformed internally, we can then walk with the Holy Spirit to transform our world externally.
In full confidence that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10).
And in complete hope that Jesus will finish the work he started in his life, death, and resurrection.