Transformed

1 Corinthians 15
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
1 Corinthians 15:51 NLT


LET IT GLOW

When my son was a young boy, he played with a toy called a "Transformer." How do I describe it? It was made of plastic, movable parts. The toy could start out as a person, then could be changed into a car. I think they make the same toy today, some 20 years later. In our key Scripture, Paul says we will be transformed,
changed (King James Version).

I had to look up the meaning of the word transformed in the King James Dictionary. It means changed in form or external appearance; metamorphosed; renewed.

Who will be transformed, changed? Matthew Henry said," Saints ( believers, I say) will be changed at our Lord Jesus' second coming."

When will this happen? It will happen, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. (verse 52 NLT)

How will it occur? "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first," quoted from 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

What is going to happen? Verse 53 in KJV states," For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
In place of the word corruptible, NAS says perishable; NLT says dying bodies; Williams  says decaying body.
In the present form, our body is decaying and perishing, but it will be changed into a body which will not.
This body will not function in heaven, so it must be changed into a heavenly body, I think.

Philipppians 3:21a states,"Who (Lord Jesus Christ) shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body."

Am I ever ready for this new body! How about you? The older it gets, the more aches and pains it has, with new ones every morning. I'm glad Paul shared this wonderful secret. Oh, I may die before Christ returns, but that's okay. Jesus conquered the grave by rising on the third day!

In his devotional book, Experiencing God Day-By-Day, Blackaby states:

"Jesus conquered death completely; now He assured His followers that we, too, will share in His victory. Death can temporarily remove us from those we love, but it transfers us into the presence of the One who loves us most. Death will one day be the door by which you gain access to all that is yours in heaven."

Are we ready to be transformed? In a blink of an eye it will happen.

But while we remain here on earth, God wants us transformed. What transformed?
Romans 12:2 says," And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." NASB

Like the caterpillar is transformed, changed through a process, so are we to be changed. Our heart is to be changed daily, our mind is to be changed daily, by submitting unto God's soverignty, His will, His plan for our life. Singing His praises, thanking Him, confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness, reading His Word, saying yes to His Spirit's leading-that's how. Then our mind will be renewed from fleshly thoughts to spiritual thoughts.


LET IT GROW

Verse 58 says,"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I had to look up the meaning of some words, you know. King James Dictionary reveals the meaning of stedfast as firmly fixed or established; constant, not fickle or wavering; steady. Webster's Dictionary didn't list the word unmoveable, but move means to change from one place or residence to another; be or set in motion.

I think Paul is telling me to have faith that is firmly fixed, not changing. Storms of life can't make it fickle, wavering, strong one day and weak another day. Keep doing the Lord's work. Labor done for Him will be rewarded.
Beware, bad company corrupts good character. (verse 33 NLT)


LET IT GO

Seek God's transformation for my life.
Have firm faith.