There’s a fairly recent song by Steven Curtis Chapman that describes some of the ways he shows his faith — he’s got a T-shirt, a bracelet with letters on it, a necklace & key chain, Bible magnets on his refrigerator, a “bless you” welcome mat, a Jesus bumper sticker, and the outline of a fish on his car. He’s got almost everything a “good Christian needs”, but he’s wondering something we should all wonder — what about the change? What about the difference? What about a life that shows I’m undergoing a change?

Indeed. What about the change? You know — the change the apostle Paul said we should all undergo?

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:1-2

That word transformed in verse 2 is translated either “transformed” or “changed” in every English-language translation I checked. It is this Greek word that is the root for our English word metamorphosis. It’s the same word translated “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2. Think about the change a caterpillar undergoes in order to become a butterfly. Think about the change Jesus underwent on the mount of transfiguration. That should give you some idea of the visual quality of the change we are to undergo when we become Christians.

No, our face won’t shine like the sun, but the change should be just as visible! We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16), so we should shine brightly enough for those around us to notice.

One more thing about this word. In the Greek, it’s a present tense, imperative, passive verb. It’s you must let yourselves be transformed; it’s not you should think about transforming yourselves if you want to. That means it’s not us that’s effecting the change; someone (rather, Someone) else is the source of the change. It’s not a change that happens in the future — it happens now! And it’s not a suggestion!

So, what about the change? Can you see the change in your life? More importantly, can others see the change (and the reason for the change)?