Transforming for Success
"Many books can INFORM you, but the Bible can TRANSFORM you." I saw this post online and immediately decided to re-tweet it myself (@VictorKubik). Why? It succinctly states the purpose of the Bible.
That, of course, leads to a personal question: What does this mean for me and you?
By its ancient nature alone, the Bible represents a unique collection of books that stretch over thousands of years in the writing. The Bible is much more beyond an interesting reference source that contains quotable sayings from God.
Paul, the first-century apostle, says this about the Bible's purpose:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
If you think about it, that's getting quite personal! Paul tells us first that the Bible is directly influenced and directed by God Himself. The implications of this verse then strongly illustrate the overall purpose of the Bible—to help us change and become more like God and Jesus Christ through our thoughts, words and actions.
Earlier Paul wrote this, which applies directly to us today: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2, emphasis added throughout).
Did you know that the Greek word that Paul uses for "transformed" is the same word that the Gospel writers used in describing the transfiguration (Matthew 17) of Jesus Christ? That's how complete a change the Bible can lead us to. If there's pain in your life, that's a signal to reach for the Word of God and search for guidance. If you have a desire to be successful, the Bible can show you directly how God defines success and what He plans for you and me.
Here's even more in the book of Hebrews:
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12-13).
It's good to consider how much God truly knows about me and you. David, a person described by the Bible as being a man after God's own heart, said this: "The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts" (1 Chronicles 28:9, New International Version).
It's amazing how personal the Bible gets. The inspired Word of God shows us that we are indeed an open book to our Creator!
We all have our private and secret thoughts—or so we think. It's easy to have excuses for why we don't want to do things that we know we should. It's also easy to create a mental defense mechanism to rationalize doing things we know we shouldn't be doing (Paul faced these very challenges himself—see Romans 7:14-21). When we read the Bible and accept the loving direction God provides, then the issue changes from what we know to doing what we know. With the spiritual power available to us as Christians, we are called to change, to repent, to transform!
So here's the beauty of the Bible. When you read God's inspired Word with the intent of letting God speak to you, you find words and phrases igniting in your mind. The Bible will come alive and get to the core of your heart and mind. You will find words of power. You may occasionally feel pangs of guilt, which is good because that will help positively motivate and transform you from the inside out. With careful study, the content of the Bible will make you a better person—and more than that—put you on the path to become a true child of God!
Being a Christian means we allow the Word of God to be the change agent in our lives.
To help you experience this personally, I invite to send for and read our popular study aid Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion. Real transformation takes time and effort. Conversion, making a conscious decision to follow God and yield to Him, changes the way you think and act. It allows you to receive the Spirit of God. You can easily read this online right now or request a free hard copy.
As publishers of The Good News, we have experienced this ourselves. We want to share with you what happens when you read and learn from your Bible. We want you to choose to let God's Word INFORM you of His way of life and to TRANSFORM your life—to bring joy and purpose to you and your family now.
P.S. I would welcome hearing of your personal experiences with the Bible. Please feel free to write or email at victor_kubik@ucg.org.
