How Do We Really Change?

When we drill a Bible story down into a moral lesson, we make it all about us. But the Bible isn’t mainly about us, and what we are supposed to be doing — it’s about God, and what he has done!      Sally Lloyd Jones

It has confounded scholars since time began. The attempt to answer this particular question has filled scores of books and articles.  Entire curriculum have been crafted to address it. Yes, this one question has plagued skeptics and enticed thinkers for centuries.

Here's the question - how do we really change?

Now, I don't mean how do we change the "small" stuff, like ...

• our mailing address
• our hairstyle
• or even our body shape?

No. I am referring to the change for which most of us desperately long. That deep, long-lasting, trend-surpassing, emotion-proof, weather-resistant, against-all-odds change that effects our very essence & nature. That change that transforms our desires, our affections, our knee-jerk responses, our fears, our worship, and even our dreams.

You know, REAL change. Transformation of the heart.

So ... how do we change? Really change?

Over the years, religion has proposed many answers. 

As a child, even though I was a Christian, I grew up thinking the Bible was filled with rules you had to keep (or God wouldn’t love you) and with heroes setting examples you had to follow (or God wouldn’t love you).  Sally Lloyd-Jones

Yes, religion has used various tools to elicit change ...

• Fear and guilt
• Appeals to self-effort
• Concern for reputation 
• Images of a stern and demanding deity

Sadly, the list is actually pretty long (and deep). In fact, its about as long (and deep) as the desire of our hearts to be our own saviors! And that's pretty long ... and deep!

Here's the problem - you see, religion can produce change! Well, sort of. BUT ... its short-term (and thus not enduring), surface-level (and thus not satisfying), and self-centered (and thus not God-glorifying).

No wonder so many of us often feel stuck with ourselves!

So ... how DO we really change?

The apostle Paul answers this question in his letter to the church at Corinth:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3.18

Amazing! By beholding Jesus as He is presented to us in the gospels, we are transformed into His image.

Could it be so simple?

First, a definition. What is "beholding"? Easy. What we "behold" is what (or who) we stare at, are preoccupied with, meditate upon, consider deeply. Its what grabs our gaze, rivets our attention, and stirs our souls.

The apostle Paul pens a profound truth - we become what we behold.


Behold yourself - with all of your overblown fears, entangling sins, and failed attempts at change - and you will become ... more like yourself!

Behold Jesus - in all of His revealed glory as He is displayed in God's Word - and you will become ... more like Jesus.

That is the work and promise of the Spirit. This is the key to real change!

So, as we preach and teach the Word of God, we must center our focus on Jesus. His perfect life, His atoning death, His glorious resurrection. We must, by the Spirit of God, turn people's heads from gazing at themselves (or anyone/anything else), and compel them to gaze upon Jesus.

Consider the words of John Owen in The Glory of Christ ...

The constant contemplation of the glory of Christ will give rest and satisfaction to the souls of those who behold Him. Our minds are apt to be filled with a multitude of perplexed thoughts – fears, cares, dangers, distresses, passions, and lusts ... filling us with disorder, darkness, and confusion.

To behold this glory of Christ is not an act of fancy or imagination ... but is rather the steady exercise of faith on the revelation and description made of this glory of Christ in the Scripture.

We will consider this in more depth in two weeks.

Until then, as you preach, teach, and lead, are those under your care more inclined to behold themselves, or to behold Jesus?

In other words, whose glory fills their (and our) minds and hearts. The "glory" of their (and our) own intentions and performance? The "glory" of their (and our) earthly heroes and compelling examples? Or the glory of Jesus?

You see, it's true. We become what we behold. 

What are you beholding?