How Has the Coronavirus Changed You?

 

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has changed the world in many ways. But how has it changed you? And how long will those changes last?

I don’t know what the world looks like right now.

Er—what I mean is, I didn’t know. I do now. Or, at least, I will. Although I guess from your perspective—

Look, this is a weird article to be writing, okay? I had to write the words you’re reading a month and a half before they were published in Discern magazine.

Which means, as I’m writing these words, I have absolutely no idea how the world will change (will have changed?) after another month and a half of dealing with the impact of the coronavirus.

Did we get it under control? Is life returning to some semblance of normal? Have our attempts to flatten the curve permanently altered the world economy? Are we still doing social distancing? Is it still a 6-foot radius? Are the lockdowns finished or still ongoing?

I wish I knew those answers so I could write something insightful about them—but I don’t, so I can’t. But there is one thing I’m sure about, even while writing this a month and a half in the past:

The coronavirus has changed you.

I want to talk about how.

Whether or not it’s still making headlines as you read these words, its global impact has left a mark. What’s your mark look like? How has everything that’s happened changed who you are, what you do, how you think and how you live? What have you learned about yourself in the process?

In this article, we’ll look at five questions we can ask ourselves to help us understand who we are in the wake of the coronavirus.

1. How do I handle change?

All change (even change that we’re excited about) introduces an element of stress into our lives, and stress makes it easier to say and do things we’re not proud of. A global pandemic that forcibly alters our day-to-day lives is absolutely going to expose us to a lot of change—and a lot of stress.

How did you handle it?

When everything turned upside down—when people started panic buying, when businesses started closing, when your job description changed or disappeared entirely, when lockdowns and quarantines started—what did you say? What did you do? How did you treat those around you?

King David (who knew a thing or two about stress and life-altering changes) wrote, “O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 36:6-7).

In times of intense change, we can trust in the love and protection of a God who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).Granted, that’s often easier said than done. But in times of intense change, we can trust in the love and protection of a God who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Of course we still may experience fear or frustration in the face of difficult changes—but navigating change gets easier when we focus our attention on the loving, all-powerful God who doesn’t change.

Ever.

2. How important are my fellow believers?

Before the quarantines and the lockdowns and the social distancing, people interacted with each other a lot more often. We’d see other people in stores, at parks, at events, at restaurants, at get-togethers—and then the coronavirus reduced our social lives to a skeleton crew.

That hit some people harder than others—but even introverts like me started to realize that being away from regular human interactions for extended periods of time can be difficult.

We learned, in other words, that people are important. That it’s easy to take them for granted. That our lives are different without them—and that’s doubly true when it comes to our Church family.

David was also the one who wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). The coronavirus deprived us of weeks and weeks of interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and that is hard. The Bible warns against “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), and the coronavirus has helped us see part of the reason why.

We need each other. Spending time with our fellow believers is an integral part of our Christianity.

When that fellowship isn’t so hard to come by anymore, will you still value it the same?

For how long?

3. How am I inclined to serve?

When the quarantines and lockdowns started, something fascinating happened: people had to pivot. “The way we’ve always done things” stopped being an option for virtually everyone, all at once, and as everyone scrambled to adapt to a new normal, some interesting by-products started showing up. Things like generosity. And kindness.

Musicians started putting on virtual concerts—for free. Homeowners started putting stuffed animals in their windows so neighborhood kids could have drive-by safaris. Companies started offering some of their virtual products for free.

YouTubers and Twitch streamers started hosting board game evenings so their audiences could play along. People started using Zoom to connect and communicate in new and creative ways. Stores set aside times for their elderly and at-risk customers to safely buy what they needed.

In other words, a lot of people (and businesses) started serving in ways they’d never even considered before all this started.

And you? Did you find a new way to serve others? Something you’ve never done before? Did you find something you’re good at—something you enjoy doing?

And if you didn’t, can you find something now?

The coronavirus forced us all to pivot, to reevaluate what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. As Christians, that sort of self-evaluation shouldn’t be limited to global pandemics—but what a perfect opportunity for us all to discover new ways to “do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

4. How resilient is my patience?

Of course, not everything that came out of the quarantine was positive. With a brand-new normal (and fewer opportunities to get out of the house), most of us were a little more on edge than usual—and discovered that we had a little less patience than we thought.

How did the quarantines test your patience—and what did those tests reveal to you about yourself?

James wrote, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

These past few months have probably given you lots of insight into the limits of your patience. James tells us that these tests actually help us to produce patience—if we navigate them correctly. They give us the opportunity to center ourselves, to not react in anger or frustration, and to make better decisions in the heat of the moment.

With patience—as with most goals in Christianity—it’s less about being perfect and more about improving. If you can take your quarantine experiences and use them to bolster your patience just a little more, then you’re coming out ahead.

5. How aware are you of prophecy?

As news coverage of the coronavirus increased, a lot of people started wondering if it had anything to do with Bible prophecy. Was it one of the seven last plagues? Was it the beginning of the end?

For most of us, prophecy is interesting but a bit confusing. Timelines, symbols, dual fulfillments—it can all get a little fuzzy. But prophecy is important. A big chunk of the Bible contains prophecies about the past, present and future—and ignoring those prophecies means ignoring valuable information about the plan of God.

Some of those prophecies tell us that things are going to get much, much worse than the coronavirus pandemic before Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth—at which point things are going to get much, much better. An important part of prophecy is knowing what we need to be doing, which means now is the time to get familiar with what the Bible says is coming.

One day, it will be too late to read up on the Bible’s prophecies—because they’ll be unfolding all around us.

As Jesus said, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36; see our article “Watch and Pray”).

Who will you become?

If the worst of the coronavirus crisis seems already behind us by the time you’re reading these words, you might be feeling like you missed out on some growth opportunities—but that’s not entirely true. Even now, there’s time to look in the rearview mirror and grow. Think back to your experiences during the quarantine and ask yourself those same five questions.

But even if the lockdowns and quarantines are still going on, the most important step is to ask ourselves what we wish our answers were. The coronavirus gave us a glimpse into the mirror, and now it’s up to each of us to do something with what we saw.

We’ve seen who we are—the time ahead of us is an opportunity to become who we ought to be.

That’s what we’re all about at Life, Hope & Truth. Our Learning Center is filled with material designed to help you change and grow into the Christian God called you to be.

The time to start is now.

Endure to the End

 

When we first encounter the truth about God, His laws and the narrow spiritual path He wants us to walk, we may feel overwhelmed. But He offers us powerful help to be able to endure to the end.

When we feel God’s calling to change our lives, we might ponder the question, “Will I be able to finish the journey that I am about to start?”

It is a good question and one that needs answers. Let’s begin at the central important point, our faith. We need to believe that God exists, that He is who He says He is, and that He can perform the things that He promises (Hebrews 11:6).

We need to also fully believe the promise that Jesus made when He said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).

The apostle Paul knew Jesus personally and was inspired to write, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Paul, perhaps more than any other apostle, was able to write these words of encouragement because of the trials and hardships that he had to experience and endure during his ministry.

Trials that Paul endured

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he listed various hardships that he had endured, such as being beaten with rods three times, being stoned once, being shipwrecked three times and spending a night and day in the sea. He also mentioned experiencing perils with robbers, his own countrymen and gentiles, plus being tired, sleepless, hungry, thirsty, cold and without enough clothing.

And besides having to deal with these hardships, he had to endure what came upon him daily and his concern for all the churches of God (2 Corinthians 11:25-28).

Paul never lost faith in God

Even though Paul had to endure extreme hardships and trials, he never lost faith in God.

In his letter to the congregation in Rome he wrote, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).

Paul suffered greatly during his ministry, yet he was assured that Christ watched over him and protected him. He knew what the Lord had spoken to Ananias—that he would be “a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16).

What about us? Will we, also, be required to suffer many things? And will we be able to endure to the end, as Paul did, without losing faith?

Suffering persecution

As Jesus said, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world … the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:19-20).

We live in an ungodly world surrounded by those Paul described as having their minds blinded by the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Persecution comes in many forms. Some who are just beginning to keep the Sabbath may encounter difficulty getting off work or having their children excused from school to observe the annual holy days.

At times we can also experience hardships dealing with health, finances or other issues. Trials, hardships and persecution come in many varieties and can also come directly from Satan. One such example is found in the Old Testament.

The life of Job

Job was the greatest (wealthiest) of all the people of the east (Job 1:3). His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, plus a large household of servants. And besides these, he had 10 children.

But Satan, in one day, took away all Job’s possessions and his children. Later Job was covered with boils from head to toe! Job’s suffering was so great that his wife even advised him to curse God and die.

Yet, throughout all his trials, Job never lost faith in God. After Job endured all his trials and forgave his friends for giving him bad advice, God restored to him twice as many possessions as he had before (Job 42:10, 12).

The Lord also blessed Job with another seven sons and three daughters (Job 42:13), and he was able to see his descendants for four generations.

Job’s hardship is a powerful example for us of not losing faith in God, even while suffering from extreme adversity.

Jesus assures us that no one can pluck us out of His hand or His Father’s hand (John 10:28-29).

However, there are times when we might wonder how we could survive such extreme hardships. So God gives us a key to unlocking our understanding of how to endure.

A key to understanding how to endure to the end

When Paul testified before the elders of the Church of God in Ephesus, he told them that he was going to Jerusalem bound in the spirit and not knowing what was in store for him, although he was expecting tribulations (Acts 20:17, 22-23).

He then gave a key to understanding how he was able to endure. It is a key that unlocks our understanding of how we can endure also.

Paul said, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy” (Acts 20:24).

If we are willing to deny ourselves and put God first in our life, He will provide us with the strength and whatever resources we need to endure to the end.Paul did not consider his life dear to himself! This is truly an example of humility and is the key to understanding how we, too, can endure hardships.

It also fulfills a requirement that Jesus said we must have to be a disciple of His. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34).

In our society many people put themselves first in priority, not willing to deny themselves. This is natural, but it is just the opposite of what Jesus said to do (Luke 9:23).

Our confidence

If we are willing to deny ourselves and put God first in our life, He will provide us with the strength and whatever resources we need to endure to the end.

Paul’s life and Job’s life were truly examples of endurance. And from their experiences, we can conclude that they were willing to deny themselves and put God first in their lives.

The outcome was that God watched over them and blessed them. And if we are willing to put God first, we will find that we, too, can do all things through Christ who will strengthen us.

We are not Paul or Job, so what assurance do we have? God promises that He will provide the strength we need to be able to complete the journey. We can be “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

If we rely on Jesus’ promises and Paul’s inspired words, then we can say, “Yes, we can!” That is, with God’s help.

For more about how we can endure to the end, read our article “Run With Endurance.”

What Should We Learn From God’s “Still Small Voice”?

 

What can we learn from Elijah’s encounter with God?

Following one of the most dramatic passages in Scripture, one in which God acts decisively to reveal His power, we read that the prophet Elijah fled for his life. He left behind his country and his people to escape the murderous plot of the evil Jezebel, King Ahab’s queen (1 Kings 19:1-3).

She had threatened his life after a stunning display of God’s power on Mount Carmel and the subsequent slaughter of 450 prophet-priests of Baal, recounted in the previous chapter. It was Elijah who had orchestrated the executions in accordance with God’s law.

Coming to grips with Elijah’s all-too-human lapse of faith—even after an extraordinary demonstration of God’s supreme power—is merely the first step in understanding Elijah’s behavior after he fled. In fact, what happened next in 1 Kings 19 can be confusing.

God tells the prophet, who had traveled to Mount Horeb alone, to “stand on the mountain before the LORD” (verse 11). There Elijah waits expectantly for God to present Himself, witnessing “a great and strong wind” as well as an earthquake and a fire, yet we are told that God was not in any of them (verses 11-12).

What is going on here? Why would Elijah expect God to reveal Himself in a terrific wind or in an earthquake or in a fire? And what do we make of the “still small voice” in which the prophet finally hears God?

The answers become much clearer when we realize two things. First, we need to understand Elijah’s mind-set, and that means understanding the significance of the events of chapter 18. Second, we need to understand how events in the life of Moses, more than 500 years before, may have colored Elijah’s thinking.

Fire from heaven

The immediate context of Elijah’s flight from Jezebel is his confrontation with the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40). Elijah had directed Ahab to assemble them on Mount Carmel for a contest to decide who deserved worship.

The contest was cleverly arranged. Baal was supposed to be the god in control of fertility and rain. Elijah’s test, then, coming on the heels of a 3½-year drought (James 5:17), directly challenged the power and authority of this pretender to divinity.

Elijah had proposed that both he and the false prophets offer bullocks, but without actually igniting the fires. Instead, they were to rely on “answers by fire” (1 Kings 18:24). This may seem odd, but it was not without precedent. On at least three previous occasions, the true God of Israel had done that very thing.

The first recorded incident occurred at the inauguration of the Aaronic priesthood ( Leviticus 9:24). The second happened after David had built an altar on the “threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” (1 Chronicles 21:18, 26). A few years later, as Solomon dedicated the new temple, which had been built on that same site, fire again “came down from heaven” (2 Chronicles 3:1; 7:1).

These three occasions were turning points in the history of God’s people. In each case, God acted dramatically to demonstrate His involvement in human affairs. Elijah saw his confrontation with the priests of Baal as a critical juncture in the history of Israel. It was a time for the people to choose God or Baal (1 Kings 18:21) and thus an appropriate moment for God to demonstrate His power.

And God did! During the contest, the hapless Baal worshippers repeatedly petitioned their god for hours, desperately seeking his attention through ritual self-mutilation and dancing. It was to no avail. There was only silence.

In contrast, Elijah soaked his offering in water, after which he offered a short prayer. What followed must have been a spectacular sight: “The fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (verse 38).

Elijah then commanded the people, who finally recognized the true God, to seize the prophets of Baal, and he ordered their execution.

This act infuriated Jezebel, prompting her to threaten Elijah.

Two mighty servants of God

Elijah fled to Beersheba. Leaving his servant, he went another day’s journey into the wilderness, where he asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4).

For whatever reason, Elijah had taken his eyes off the awesome power of God, instead allowing a mere human (though admittedly powerful, evil and vicious) to intimidate him.

In the next few verses, we read that God sent an angel to feed him and to send him to Mount Horeb (verses 5-8). The passage tells us that this special meal was to sustain Elijah for “forty days and forty nights” (verse 8). This is an important hint to what surely went through Elijah’s mind at this moment.

First, he was headed to “Horeb, the mountain of God.” This mountain, where Moses first encountered God in the burning bush (see chart for comparisons), is better known as Mount Sinai. When Israel encamped before the mountain, Moses also went without food and drink for 40 days and nights—twice!

As a man dedicated to the true God, Elijah must have seen the similarities between his experiences and those of Moses. Both had fled from hostile, tyrannical rulers. Both had journeyed into the wilderness. Both had become discouraged, asking God to take their lives. Both had eaten food provided by God, and both had fasted on their way to the summit of the mountain of God.

When Elijah had climbed the mountain, he entered a cave (verse 9) or actually “the cave” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). What cave could be intended other than the “cleft of the rock” into which God put Moses when he was on the mountain (Exodus 33:22)?

These experiences, paralleling those of Moses, could have led Elijah to expect God to reveal Himself just as dramatically as He had through wind and earthquake and fire so many years before. Coupled with the rather dramatic moments Elijah had already witnessed in his own life, it’s no surprise that he expected God to reveal Himself powerfully.

But that’s not what happened!

The still small voice

Unexpectedly, God spoke to Elijah in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12, New King James Version, King James Version, Revised Standard Version). The New International Version translates it as a “gentle whisper,” and the Darby Translation, as a “soft gentle voice.”

Elijah needed to learn what we must all learn. Even though God may at times interact with us in extraordinary ways, He can just as easily interact with us through the ordinary.The point is, God chose not to speak to His prophet through fire and thunder this time. Elijah needed to learn what we must all learn. Even though God may at times interact with us in extraordinary ways, He can just as easily interact with us through the ordinary.

And that begs an important question we must all answer.

Are we so focused on moments of fire and smoke, thunder and lightning, wind and storm and earthquakes that we miss God’s message?

He most often instructs us as we read and study Scripture or listen to a sermon, particularly when we take the time to consider what we’ve read or heard.

He may also expect us to listen to the advice of a brother or sister in Christ, and to heed the counsel of one of God’s ministers. And then, of course, when what we want to do is at odds with God’s will, God may get our attention through a troubled conscience.

Are we paying attention?

For more on hearing God’s message, see our online article “Reading the Mind of God” and our study guide 7 Keys to Better Bible Study.

Are You Only a Social Christian?

 

For many people, membership in a church is a great source for developing community ties and friendships. Is this sufficient for someone to be called a Christian?

If we attend a weekly church service where we make and maintain friends and develop a sense of community, we feel good about the time spent. But is attending church on a regular basis and acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind—and our personal Savior—all there is to being a Christian?

The idea that God will “accept me just as I am” is a common belief among professing Christians. But is this true? Does God expect anything more of us when we decide to become Christians?

What does the duty of a Christian really encompass?

Christians are generally defined as those who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Additional definitions include the idea that Christians are to display qualities associated with Christianity, or that they are followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ called His followers “disciples” (students):

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

The word abide is alternately translated “continue in” or “remain faithful to” His teachings. In other words, a true disciple not only acknowledges the correctness of Jesus Christ’s teachings, but lives his or her life according to those teachings. What He taught was a way of life and not just thinking good thoughts while devoting an hour or two a week to touching base with friends and community.

Jesus also told His disciples that after He was gone, He would send a “Helper” (the Holy Spirit) to assist them in keeping His commandments: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:15-16).

Once again, we see an emphasis on something His disciples were required to do—keep His commandments.

The apostle Paul explained that one cannot really follow Christ unless he or she is led by the Holy Spirit. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14).

Following the example of Christ becomes a matter of life and death! For more information on the Holy Spirit, see our article “What Is the Holy Spirit?”

What does following entail?

Much of the modern focus on the life of Jesus Christ centers on the miracle of His birth and the “Baby in the manger” story. While this is a part of the life of Christ, He lived another 33½ years on this earth and set quite an example for us. He kept the laws of God. He gave some very clear statements about what He stood for and what He expected from His disciples. To concentrate only on His birth and His time as a baby causes many to overlook those vital lessons.

Contrary to what many believe, Jesus stated clearly that He did not come to do away with the law. In fact, He came to magnify it.

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

He goes on to give examples of how He came to fulfill the law. In each example, He shows how the requirements of the law were heightened and magnified by His coming! “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother ‘Raca’ shall be in danger of the council” (Matthew 5:21-22).

Jesus goes on in chapter 5 to give additional examples of how more is expected from Christians where the law is concerned. See our article “Jesus and the Law.”

Returning to the original question, is it possible to consider yourself a true disciple of Jesus Christ (a Christian) if you mainly attend church in order to have friends and feel a part of the community? Christ Himself made it clear He expected much more!

Change is at the core

The message delivered by Jesus dealt repeatedly with the need—in fact, the requirement—to produce spiritual fruit.The message delivered by Jesus dealt repeatedly with the need—in fact, the requirement—to produce spiritual fruit. He emphasized that those who don’t produce spiritual growth and fruit will be found unacceptable:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2).

Notice further there is a penalty for not bearing fruit, and the mark of Christians is that they bear fruit: ‘“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:6-8).

The apostle Paul refers to a dramatic and complete change required of Christians. “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. 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” (Romans 12:1-2).

The word transformed in verse 2 is translated from the Greek word metamorphoo. The literal meaning is “metamorphosed.” That carries the meaning of a total and complete change from what one was before becoming a disciple of Christ, changing into the image of Christ by following His example.

This is in stark contrast to the idea of just attending a church or considering ourselves Christians only for social convenience!

Paul elaborates on this thought in his letter to the Ephesians: “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Jesus Christ doesn’t conform to the image we create of Him. We are required to conform to the example He set for us!

Looking for the church behind Life, Hope & Truth? See our “Who We Are” page.

What now?

God wants us to transform from our old man to a new man. In terms of spiritual development and character, He requires a complete change! What a contrast to the idea of being a “Christian” just for social reasons, and to the idea of God’s “accepting us as we are.”

God calls us in spite of the condition we may be in at the time. But God never intended for us to simply remain as we are after learning about Him. Think about the need for a metamorphosis, and you’ll realize the extent of the change—conforming to the image of Christ—that God requires. Is it a change you are willing to make?

Jesus spoke about the need for commitment to His way of life in Luke 9:62: “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” True disciples commit to a lifetime of change and growth!

For more information about steps to take in becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ, please see the articles “How to Repent” and “Do You Have to Be Baptized to Be Saved?” and download the booklet Change Your Life!