Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- Romans 12:2
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
- Revelation 21:5
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
- Isaiah 43:18-19
“God has the power to transform your life if you invite Him to do so. Your decision is straightforward: whether not to allow the Father’s transforming power to work in you and through you. The Father stands at the door and waits; all you must do is knock. When you do, God always answers.“
- anonymous, His Passion … Your Purpose (Family Christian Press)
I have used Romans 12:2 a lot in the past few months regarding not transforming to this world, but what about the other half?
If we know what we must avoid, then all we usually do is to build up walls to prevent the evil from entering. But since God tells us that we must shine His Light which is now in us, how will anyone see that Light with this tall wall surrounding you?
The evil in my youth was alcohol. I lived in a dry county. You could not openly drink alcohol. You could not buy it. It was illegal to transport it. I am only talking about drinking alcohol: beer, wine, distilled spirits.
But that being said, coupling that with the previous paragraph, we were warned that if you went to a bar to witness to your friends, they would not listen very much and anyone that saw you there would think you were just one more booze hound.
So, if putting up walls is not the answer and going to the “dens of iniquity” is not the answer, then reading further in the verse might be the answer. We do too much of that half-verse reading. We need to realize that when our bright idea did not work, we need to read the verses before that verse and the verses after, or just, in some cases, read the entire verse.
And as the quote says, God is not rude. He is not a bully. He will not force you to change. With God in your heart, you will want to get rid of a lot of the sin in your life that you already realize is holding you back. But then, you have that one bad habit that know one knows about…
Yeah, that one. You might think that one hurts no one, but it hurts you. God is awaiting your answer about that one. Are you failing to serve God better because of it? Are you thinking improper thoughts?
God has the power. Even when you have accepted God into your life and the fruits of the Spirit are evident, there may be that storeroom in the basement with a skeleton in it. And every time you go into the basement, you peek into the storeroom.
God is waiting for your answer. Sanctification will never be complete until we cross over to the other side, but the blessings of God might just be waiting for God to see that the storeroom is finally empty. Blessings that are found in this life. And this is not talking about Spring cleaning. That basement room might be in a dark recess of your heart, holding onto something that you cannot take with you to Heaven.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
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