Change: How do I Know this is from God?
I recently asked my Facebook friends to share their most life-changing experiences. Out of 21 answers, all but two at least referenced their salvation. Many described how they were on a path of destruction, a downward spiral, when Christ rescued them.
The truth is, when God saves souls, He transforms them. This change is necessary to move a person from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Scripture is full of examples of the dramatic changes that take place in lives after salvation.
Mary Magdalene, formerly a demon-possessed woman, now following Jesus all the way to the empty tomb.
Peter, originally the riotous fisherman, now preaching at Pentecost and harvesting thousands of souls for God’s kingdom.
Paul, previously a persecutor and murderer of believers, now evangelizing and planting churches across the known world.
Yes, God is in the business of changing people. He wants all of His creation to come to know Him personally. But if someone chooses to rebel and reject Him, God is capable of using change to humble that person, too. Remember Nebuchadnezzar?
Nebuchadnezzar made himself his god. Even after he had known Daniel, had heard much about God from Daniel, and had seen - with his own eyes - God rescue Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, his pride kept him from recognizing the one, true God. And God drastically changed Nebuchadnezzar - for the worse.
“At the end of twelve months he (Nebuchadnezzar) walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
“While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
“The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar…” (Daniel 4:28-33a)
This same principle applies to nations, not just individuals. Look what God said to Israel in Hosea 4:1-7. (I know it’s a lot of Scripture, but this is how we learn! Please don’t skip over it!)
“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."
If God was willing to shame, destroy, and reject His chosen people, you can be sure He will do that to any nation - to anyone - who rejects Him. But clearly, neither these people, nor you and I, could change themselves this significantly. It was God Who did the work.
So, what are the evidences of a positive, God-wrought change in lives? There are many.
First, He changes us from guilty, condemned sinners to forgiven, accepted believers. He gives us a new heart. When the prophet Zechariah saw the high priest, Joshua, clothed in filthy garments which were representative of his sin, the Lord said:
“Take away the filthy garments from him…Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” (Zech. 3:4)
This simple wardrobe change was a picture of how God changes our self-righteousness for Jesus’ righteousness. He changes our hearts - the seat of our soul and will - and makes us clean and new. But Joshua couldn’t replace his own sin-stained rags, and neither can we. God must do it for us.
"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:25-26)
Not only does God give us a new heart, He gives us new desires and behaviors (because our actions grow out of the beliefs of our hearts.) The Scriptures contain lists of sins that God removes from us after salvation: dishonesty, pride, covetousness, inappropriate sexual conduct, gluttony, greed, idolatry, and more. But this verse sums it up well:
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8)
The world would have you believe that there is no absolute truth, that man can determine for himself what is good, and that the Bible is obsolete and archaic. This is why we have the huge push to accept abortion, homosexuality, and now even pedophilia. It’s sickening what can come from man’s evil imaginations, but the Bible has warned us for centuries that this is the case.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
“Because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man… Who changed the truth of God into a lie…for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature…And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Romans 1: 21-28, selected portions)
Instead of being selfish and proud, the Holy Spirit transforms us - sanctifies us - into selfless, others-centered, humble people. At least, that is His goal! As we walk with Him and learn from His Word, He creates new patterns of thought and behavior in us, which are designed after Jesus Himself. Instead of the works of the flesh, we display the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)
*Notice that “works” are things that we do on our own power. And those works never measure up to God’s standards. We don’t have the power within ourselves to muster up anything good or worthwhile. But “fruit” is something a plant produces just by virtue of being a plant. In our case, spiritual fruit naturally grows out of our union with God. Scripture uses the word "abide” to describe this relationship, and its importance can’t be overstated: “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
In addition to a new heart, desires, and behavior, God grants us confidence in Him and the assurance of the future with Him. A Christian who lives in a constant state of fear, worry, and turmoil is not taking advantage of all the resources of the Word. Why would I make that statement? Because God has already told us the end of the story - and He wins!
The entire book of I John was written for our assurance. In fact, the word “know” appears 27 times in the short book. Here are just some of the things we can know when we trust God:
God forgives the sins of the repentant heart. (1:9)
God’s truth is different from Satan’s lies. (2:21)
The world will not know or love us because we are the sons of God. (3:1)
As His children, we look like our Father. (3:2)
Love is the defining mark of a Christian. (3:14)
We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. (3:24, 4:13)
Our faith overcomes (or conquers) the world. (5:4)
We have eternal life. (5:11,13)
God hears our prayers. (5:14)
We are of God. (5:19)
There is enough truth just in this list to live confidently and faithfully in our position as God’s followers. But, of course, God has given us more.
Probably the clearest evidence that God has changed a life is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit has several roles in our lives, including teaching (John 14:26), guiding (John 16:13), empowering (Acts 1:8), interceding (Romans 8:26), sealing us until our final redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14), and glorifying the Father (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit is what (or Who) makes a true believer think, speak, and act like God’s children should.
Yes, the evidences of a changed life in Christ are many. After our conversion, God continues growing, maturing, and changing us until we meet Him face to face in eternity.