Extreme Spiritual Makeover
Every week millions of viewers watch
heart-warming
"reality" TV stories of well-meaning people
performing good deeds for specially selected,
less fortunate people. Sadly, while enjoying
these entertaining stories, viewers are
unwittingly being conditioned to accept three
reality-damaging propositions:
1) that
an extreme or radical makeover is permanent,
2) that
it is complete and
3) that
it is quick. These propositions are
"reality-damaging"
because we are lured into believing what we know in
reality is not true.
We cannot forget that God's Word is the true
definition of reality. Let us consider:
World View Versus Reality:
Are Extreme Makeovers Permanent?
Television shows, media
publications of
all kinds, and many so-called "experts" on
self-improvement tout "extreme makeovers" in
houses,
careers, habits, appearances—you name it.
However, it is not surprising that these man-made
solutions do not last: houses deteriorate, careers
disappear or change until they seem disappointing,
once-broken habits resurface, physical appearances
need ever-increasing upkeep.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a
"makeover" is "an overall treatment to improve the
appearance or change the image." In other words,
such
a change is only superficial. Although the world
expects
a makeover to be radical and exciting - extreme
- it is
still only cosmetic. However, the Bible presents a
"makeover"
as a complete core transformation that occurs
when
a person accepts the saving grace of salvation
freely
given by the Lord Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul
stated,
"Therefore, if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
gone, the
new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
World View Versus Reality: Are
Extreme Makeovers Complete?
Once the extreme makeover of the television
show,
media publication or "expert" is finished, and
the cameras
are put away, the well-meaning people leave. The
makeover - no matter how extreme - is
external…it
does not last. Those who subscribe to the world
view are
rapidly changing channels to find out what is
the latest,
newest cause—what can distract them from their
weary, seemingly pointless lives.
Is the extreme makeover complete? Not at all!!
Where do those who benefit from the makeover go for
further assistance and advice on upkeep? How do
they
handle the host of new issues that result from the
makeover? For example, it is one thing to have
an expert
tell you what to wear, how to cut your hair, how to
remodel your house, how to act in certain
interpersonal
scenarios, etc.; but what happens when things don't
work the way the "expert" said they would?
What then? What about the situations the expert
never mentioned or those for which you cannot
figure
how to apply the expert's principles?
However, when we experience God's
"makeover," it's
just the beginning in our "reality experience." Our
heavenly Father will not leave us nor forsake
us. He is
eternal, faithful and never-changing. We are
free to go
to Him at any time, 24-hours a day, to talk with
Him, to
seek His wise counsel, to worship Him and to
rest in His
shelter when circumstances threaten to overwhelm
us.
He promised to always be there—and He is.
Better still, God is not only committed to
continue
the transformation process in us as we continue
to seek
Him and do His will, but He has promised to
complete the work in us which He
started at our salvation
(Philippians 1:6). Nothing is to be left
half-finished or
incomplete in His kingdom…especially us!
World View Versus Reality:
Do Extreme Makeovers Occur Quickly?
In 30-60 minutes, the concerns of the
specially selected beneficiary of the extreme
makeover
appear to be resolved, which is a distortion of
reality. It
takes time to accomplish these changes, even on a
superficial and external basis. The viewing
audience is
only shown vignettes as the building/makeover
progresses. This is another distortion of
reality.
On the other hand, as believers, our loving
Father's
reality view focuses on His call to us to be
like Him. Our
transformation will take our entire life span to
accomplish.
Think for a moment about the apostle Paul's
conversion on the road to Damascus. Although he
was—by the world's standards—a good man,
the Lord knew he needed more than a simple
makeover.
Paul was a sinner and needed the same heart/soul
transformation that we all need. Paul's
experience on the
road to Damascus was certainly spectacular.
However, it
was only a jolting jumpstart to his new life.
Years later,
when he penned the letter to the Philippians, he
wrote—
Not that I have
already obtained all this, or have already been
made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for
which
Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brother, I do not
consider
myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one
thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is
ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the
prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
(Philippians 3:12-14).
Reality Speaking
Does this mean as Christians we
should
stop thinking about how to change? Never! We are
called
to be like Him. This means daily surrendering
our wills to
God's will. We are to stop trying to improve
ourselves in
our own power, and seek to change that which we are
directed by God to change. He will provide the
power and
wisdom to accomplish each step in our
transformation.
We are to reflect on the outside the radical and
ongoing
transformation occurring on the inside.
Moreover, as followers of Christ, we must
also come
alongside other believers to encourage them as they
undergo aspects of their transformation. God did
not
leave us alone to endure the finishing process by
ourselves, and He gave us each other for
encouragement. And when we encourage others, the
Lord accomplishes more of our own core
transformation.
Do you know someone that needs a word of
encouragement? Give them a call or write them a
note
today to let them know you are also on the same
road
toward something much more radical and precious
than
any "extreme makeover" that is promoted by the
world.
You are daily being transformed into all that
God
intended you to be! The key for this kind of
extreme
makeover is summarized in Paul's words in his
Roman
letter:
Therefore, I urge you,
brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God—this is
your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform
any longer
to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the
renewing of your
mind. |
Today we read a lot about spiritual growth and
becoming mature in our Christian walk. For years
we've missed a very important point-that
Christians will not and cannot grow effectively
in isolation. We need a spiritual community.
