Day 2: Transformation
Illustration
Consider Jesus’ own transformation. He was living in radiant glory with the Father, in complete sinless perfection and perfect righteousness. See Him descend from heaven to earth where He took on a human body, and then took on the sins and sickness of the world. He went from blinding glory and spotless righteousness to humiliating shame and sinful wretchedness.
Sin makes us unrecognizable from God’s original design for our lives, that of being God’s image-bearers; and so Jesus, covered in our sin, was not recognizable either:
Isaiah 52:14 (NIV) Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness —
Look at this shocking transformation Jesus underwent. He, who was the very image of God, righteous and holy, was transformed into your image into your sin. Why? So that you, as a believer in Him, might be transformed into His image, into His righteousness.
Your transformation happens as you hear and believe the transformation message - the death of Jesus for your sins and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead - daily. This message of transformation has the power to profoundly affect our hearts, which is where all real and lasting change begins.