Transformation

My grandson used to play with toys called Transformers. So named because with a few twists, they could be transformed from one form to another.

Electrical transformers convert electricity from one type to another. A high voltage current is transformed into a lower voltage in order to be accessible to a household.

I think of God as the great Transformer. I don’t mean to be sacrilegious, but only the Almighty can transform darkness to light. I can flick a switch and bring a dark room to light. But who created light in the beginning? He did, before even creating the sun.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:1-3, NIV). Not magic, only God.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (II Corinthians 4:6, NIV).

You have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light (I Peter 2:9, Living Bible).

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (II Corinthians 3:18, NIV). That’s the great transformation in the spiritual realm.

I have some dear friends who model that transformation. When, as young adults, they realized they needed help in their messed up lives, they opened their dark hearts to the Light. And the change was a great sight to behold. I’m thankful that I was spared the heartache and devastation of sinful habits by becoming a follower of Christ as a child. But I need to see the power of God at work in rescuing lives from darkness. It speaks to me of His powerful love and increases my faith.

There are many illustrations in the Scriptures: Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, the apostle Paul. But I love being able to witness the great Transformer at work with my own eyes. Have you witnessed that in your life or in the lives of those around you? Why not take a minute to thank the Lord for His transforming power?