A few years back the hottest electronic item was the iPod. This tiny digital music player, according to Apple, would change the world. It was a great success, and for many people, it replaced all their listening devices. All companies would like to be as innovative as Apple, but no matter how successful they are, they can’t truly change the world. Only one person can: Jesus Christ! He is life-changing for anyone who will repent of their sins and follow Him.
In the beginning, God created a perfect world with perfect people. But because God gave mankind a choice, the world was changed by sin. God did not change, but all creation was affected by the fall of Adam and Eve. When sin entered there was an automatic separation from God. He is holy, and no sin can enter His presence. Ever since that day, God has been in the process of changing men and women, boys, and girls into the image of His Son. One day those who have received His Son Jesus as their Savior will be restored to a perfect state forever. The world will be as it was in the beginning.
In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were offered as an atonement for sins. However, the sacrifice did not pay the debt, it was only rolled over to the next year, and time after time the sacrifices had to be repeated until Jesus, the perfect one, was sacrificed for our sins. After that, there was a new means of power for those who believed. God then provided the Holy Spirit to dwell within us as a source of power for us to change.
Act 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
God calls us to live as people who can make an impact on others with the good news of Jesus. It starts with our own transformation, and the Spirit gives each of us gifts to be used in His service. Watch what happens when the Spirit transforms our minds.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Paul used the word “beseech,” meaning “I beg you!” Paul is begging them to listen and obey. The Holy Spirit will provide us with the power to become a living sacrifice. Paul had the attitude of one who was totally committed to Christ. As a sacrifice, he literally gave his life for the cause of Christ. Paul is teaching us that we are to be a sacrifice. We are to die to ourselves. In I Corinthians 15:31, Paul is an example of this.
1Corinthians 15:31 “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
A dead person has no rights or desires. Because we are still living, we show this as a denial of self, on purpose, every day. The irony in this is that by dying in Christ, we then can truly live. He fills us up with himself and the joy and satisfaction are beyond our comprehension. The relationship becomes so personal, it’s like I’m in my own world with Jesus. So, the first thing we must do to change the world is to become a living sacrifice by dying to ourselves.
The second thing we must do is to be transformed.
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
We are not to be conformed to the lifestyle of the world, but we are instructed to be transformed – changed – by the renewing of our minds. How? By arming ourselves with the mind of Christ.
I Pet. 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
With scripture, personal time with Jesus, prayer, and putting into action what we have learned, we can begin to develop the mind of Christ. In Philippians 4:8, we are told that change starts in our thought processes which controls what we do.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
God calls us to live as people who can make an impact on others with the good news of Jesus. It must start with our own transformation, and the Spirit gives each of us gifts to be used in service. We all have gifts the Holy Spirit gives us the moment we are saved. From the point of conversion, we are to seek, with God’s help, to develop them.
Romans 12:4-8 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
I am very skeptical of people or products claiming to change the world. Usually, it’s just empty rhetoric. But let’s think of what can happen when the Spirit transforms our minds and uses our gifts creatively in places that are close to home. Think, what are some ways you can minister in your area? Each of us has opportunities that are unique to us. You may have a neighbor that needs encouragement, a meal, or a plate of cookies to show them you care. It may be someone in a store that can’t find what they are looking for and you offer to help. A note you send, a text, or a phone call, all are ways you can gain a hearing with them. Where can you serve as a member of Christ’s body?
It doesn’t matter what our circumstances are, God can and wants to use us. Too many times we use our circumstances as excuses. For instance, a dear friend of mine in Knoxville became homebound because of her husband’s illness. She could have said, this is my mission and I don’t have time for anything else. No one would have thought anything less about her, but she didn’t. She felt the call to continue to minister to others. She started a prayer ministry. She would call different ones to check on them and find out their prayer needs. Before long we were all calling her with our needs. There is a group I’m a member of on Facebook called “What’s outside my window.” It is worldwide, and it has opened up great opportunities to tell others about the power of my God. It has afforded me “around the world” friends to pray for and provided a new group of people to bear one another’s burdens. Have you ever thought that God allowed the pandemic to see how we will handle it? Will we become self-consumed and argumentative, or will we look for opportunities to serve? Sadly many missed the opportunity to be a blessing to others.
Changing the world happens when the Spirit changes one life at a time, first our lives and then others. We need to pray, “Lord, I believe you can use your church to transform the world. But I know it starts with me in the community where you have placed me. Use me, Lord.”
