I hope not too many people are surprised that life continues on earth this morning. No rapture. No space aliens. No planets on collision with earth. Life goes on, work continues, and assignments are still due this week.
The good news is that we get to continue our educational journey and the great news is that it is for our good! Rom. 12:1-2 is one of my “go to” verses to highlight the important role that the mind plays in the Christian life. It reads,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1-2, NKJV)
The picture of life in Christ that these verses paint is truly inspiring. We can be holy, acceptable to God! We can overcome conformance to this world! We can live out the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God! None of this is accomplished on our own, of course, but rather through the grace of God. His mercy to us to forgive our rebellion against him and his grace to us to provide the way for reconciliation are foundational for our life in Him. God has purposed our transformation to be like Him, however, to be a transformational process rather than a transforming moment. And, one of the means by which He accomplishes this transformation is by the renewing of our minds.
It is an ongoing process. We know Him in part, then we prove that knowledge out in our lives, and then we know Him more fully. Repeat. Learn. Grow. The Christian life is a journey that involves the mind. Think about that the next time you pick up your Bible, or your favorite theologian, or Victor Hugo. Think about it the next time you climb Flint Rock and view the beauty of Holston Lake. Think about it as you gather for worship next Sunday. God is renewing your mind. Take every learning opportunity to participate in that exciting journey!