FROM SHAME TO SPLENDOUR

We live today in a secular culture that encourages us to yield to its seductions, complain about our circumstances, and be litigious towards those who hurt us. Christianity, by contrast, invites us to grow in character by overcoming difficulties, resisting temptations, and forgiving those who hurt us. Rob Yule shared this message on personal transformation at Greyfriars Presbyterian Church, Mt. Eden, Auckland, on 20 March 2005, while discussing the third purpose of the 'Forty Days of Purpose' programme, 'You were created to become like Christ'.

The Cretan novelist Nikos Kazantzakis tells how as child he used to play among the ruins of Knossos, home of the ancient Minoan civilization, the earliest civilization of Europe. He was fascinated by the drawings he saw carved on the stone walls - drawings of butterflies.

Growing up he began to realise that these drawings symbolised a great longing - our longing to be transformed from the grub that we are to the glory that we can become. This longing, which has been in our hearts from the dawn of civilisation, is answered by the Christian message. We long to be transformed - and God wants to transform us. The Bible says, 'We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.' (2 Corinthians 3: 18, RSV).

When Jesus saves us he takes us as we are. But he loves us too much to leave us where we are. He changes us into his glorious likeness. From grub to glory, from a humble caterpillar to a glorious butterfly, from shame to splendour, God wants to transform you into the likeness of his Son Jesus Christ. 'From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him - and he knew who would - should become like his Son.' (Romans 8: 29, LB). God's third purpose for your life is that you become like Christ.

How does God do this? God uses your life's circumstances. 'In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' (Romans 8: 28, NIV). This doesn't say that all things are good, because they're not. Some things are evil. In some things we've really messed up. But God uses all things for our good, to transform us into his likeness.

There are three things particularly that God uses to change us. We see them in the life of Jesus. If you're going to grow to be like Jesus Christ, you're going to be put through these experiences too.

Transformed by Troubles

God uses trouble to teach us to trust him .

God is more interested in what you are, your character, than what you do, your career. You won't take your career with you into eternity, but you will take your character. The Bible says, 'We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us.' (Romans 5: 3-4, CEV).

Last week I said that the church is a laboratory of love. Well, this week we're going to learn that the world is a laboratory of character, a workshop for developing character. The goal of your life is not achieving comfort. It's developing character. Jesus said, 'In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.' (John 16: 33, NIV).

Jesus knew what he was talking about. He experienced trouble in the garden, the night before he was crucified. He began to feel intensely what he had to go through the next day. He was going to be cruelly tortured. He was going to bear the sins of the world. Could he trust God to see him through? He struggled with this.' He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.... Father, take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."' (Mark 14: 33-36, NIV).

If you're going to become like Jesus Christ, you need to trust God completely, even when your circumstances seem terrible, when you don't understand or can't control what's happening to you. God uses trouble to teach us to trust him. It's easy to trust God when everything is going well. The real test is trusting God when things are not going well. God takes you beyond your feelings to teach you faith, beyond your comfort zone to teach you trust.

If we persevere, there is a great reward coming. 'These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.' (2 Corinthians 4: 17, CEV).

Transformed by Temptations

God uses temptation to teach us to obey him

Temptations are situations where we're presented with opportunities to do wrong and turn away from God. God doesn't tempt us. Satan does, appealing to our own evil desires. But God is able to overrule our temptations, to use them to grow our ability to overcome.

Jesus never sinned, but he encountered temptation in the desert. Before the beginning of his public ministry he went through an intense 40-day period of temptation. But he resisted, saying to the tempter, 'Go away Satan! The Scriptures says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him."' (Matthew 4: 10, CEV).

Temptations seek to lure us away from following and serving God, by compromising our lives in ways that we're ashamed of and ultimately have to justify or conceal. Whatever they are - whether it's a temptation to take money, pursue a wrong relationship ; harbour unclean thoughts by looking at inappropriate pictures, pander to self-love by giving way to covetousness or greed - temptation always seeks to compromise us and rob us of our freedom and integrity. Temptations try to trap us and lead us away from God's call on our lives.

In 1992, shortly after the fall of Communism, I went to teach in a Bible School in Czechoslovakia. I was stranded in a Prague hostel, because the people who'd arranged to pick me up didn't arrive. I spent an entire very frustrating day on the archaic Communist-era telephone system trying to make contact with them. Finally in the early evening I got through, and found that all the Bible School vehicles were broken down. They gave me instructions which bus to catch the next day. So, finally able to relax, I did what I'd wanted to do all day, and went for a walk around Prague's famous Wenceslas Square. I had walked around three sides of the square when I came to the bottom corner, and there, on the other side of a narrow street, my eyes caught the eyes of a prostitute.

An inner struggle began. Here I was, lonely and alone, on the other side of the world from anyone who knew me. I was frustrated by not being met and having to spend a fruitless day trying to make contact with the Bible School who'd invited me to lecture there. I didn't want sex, but I longed for companionship. I stood there, looking at her, struggling to resist, for what seemed an eternity. Then suddenly, just when it seemed I couldn't resist any longer, a tourist group came down to the corner of the square, stopped between us, and broke the line of sight.

The spell was broken. I turned, and walked quickly in the opposite direction, towards the hostel. I threw myself on my bed and sobbed and sobbed. I'd come within an ace of throwing away my integrity, my marriage, my family, my mission trip, my ministry.

The Bible says that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. 'God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.' (1 Corinthians 10: 13).

Because Jesus was tempted, yet resisted temptation, he understands our struggles. 'We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death.... And now that Jesus has suffered and was tempted, he can help anyone else who is tempted.' (Hebrews 2: 17, CEV). 'Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need... we will find help.' (Hebrews 4: 15-16, CEV). He can help us overcome temptation.

Transformed by Trespasses

God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive those who hurt us

Trials are situations God uses to draw us closer to him. Temptations are situations the devil uses to lure us away from God. Trespasses are situations other people use to hurt us. Some people try intentionally to hurt us - especially if you're an active Christian who gets under their skin and convicts them by your integrity and witness. That's why Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer to 'forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.'

Jesus never sinned, but he was very sinned against. He endured trespasses on the cross. He was terribly abused and hurt. On the cross he not only bore our sins, he was also the butt of abuse from people who gathered round like ghouls to see the spectacle and jeer. But Jesus never retaliated. He never paid them back. Instead, he forgave them. He said, "Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing."' (Luke 24: 32-33, CEV).

The Bible says, 'God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you.... Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly.' (1 Peter 2: 21-23, CEV).

If you're going to grow up spiritually and become like Jesus Christ, you're going to have to learn to forgive people who hurt you. You'll often be hurt in life, and want to pay the person back. But if you're going to become like Christ, you must learn to forgive. 'If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.' (Matthew 6: 14-15, CEV). 'Forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.' (Ephesians 4: 32, CEV).

We are responsible for our reaction to all these situations, whether they be troubles, temptations or trespasses. It's not automatic that they'll change us for the better. Some people are hardened by their troubles, succumb to their temptations, and harbour grudges against those who hurt them. Whether you or I are transformed depends on our willingness to change.

A caterpillar must do something to become a butterfly. It has to spin its own cocoon. If it doesn't make a cocoon, it won't become a butterfly.

Similarly, Jesus told us we must 'take up our cross' and 'follow him' (Mark 8: 34). Our shame can't be transformed into splendour unless we're willing to do that. It's only as we co-operate with God in our troubles, yield to God in our temptations, and forgive others their trespasses against us, that God can change us into his likeness.

Rob Yule, 20 March 2005

© 2005, Greyfriars Presbyterian Church