2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
My wife and I enjoy watching home renovation shows. We’ve watched so many of them we’ve convinced ourselves we could probably be the next Chip and Joanna Gaines! We have yet to renovate an entire house, but we have taken on small furniture renovation projects in our spare time. There is something exhilarating about watching the transformation of a dilapidated piece of old furniture be transformed into something new. To watch something go from hideous to beautiful, or from useless to useful is life-giving!
However, if you ever go through a renovation process yourself, you quickly learn there is nothing glamourous about it. It is tedious and frustrating. It takes more work than you thought it would. You spend time getting dirty and tired, and you wonder why you even started in the first place. But the result is something beautiful.
Why is our human nature drawn to home renovation shows and renovation projects? Perhaps we are drawn to this process because it reflects the very work that God longs to do in each of our hearts and lives. When we receive Christ as Savior, we exchange our old life for a new one. We exchange sin for forgiveness, pride for humility, legalism for grace, fear for love, weakness for strength, and anger for joy.
Transformation does not come easily. God does the work, yes! But we must surrender every area of our lives and live in obedience to His will. This can be daunting. You may even wonder if the process is worth it, but it most certainly is! God is transforming you from one degree of glory to another! Stay the course and see how God changes your life!