I came to Jesus Christ for salvation when I was only eleven, so I had not yet accumulated a heavy load of personal sins, but I can testify to the transformation that took place as my sinful nature was exchanged for His righteousness as I acknowledged my inadequacy and accepted His sacrifice on the cross in my place. I love to hear how others have been transformed. Each and every testimony has such power because it is true, but some transformations are much more dramatic than mine.
One of the most dramatic transformations recorded in the Bible took place on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus. (Acts 9) A zealous Jewish leader named Saul of Tarsus was on his way to arrest and persecute followers of Jesus in Damascus. Along the way, he encountered Jesus and that dramatic encounter transformed him into the Apostle Paul who became a planter of Christian churches, who was himself persecuted and eventually executed for his faith in Jesus Christ.
Two of my favorite authors have written books about their transformation. Although separated by more than three decades and an ocean, C.S. Lewis and Lee Strobel were not just unbelievers; they were atheists who openly denied the existence of God. Both were scholars, well respected in their chosen fields who began to seek the truth they thought would disprove the Christian faith. They each found the truth, but it wasn’t what they expected. They accepted the truth of the Bible and not only became Christians, but two of the strongest defenders of the Christian faith of their respective generations.
C.S. Lewis was a British university professor. Twelve years after his dramatic transformation, he wrote a book titled, Surprised by Joy. He was still fascinated with the fact that living a Christian life was not the somber, Spartan life of sacrifice he had expected it to be, but a life filled with joy and freedom. As I listened to the Easter sermon this year I could not stop thinking about one of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes, “The Son of God became a man so that men could become the sons of God.”
Lee Strobel has a master of law degree from Yale and a journalism degree from Missouri University. He became a very successful investigative reporter and then legal editor for the Chicago Tribune. He was disturbed that his wife had become a Christian and he set out to prove that her faith was unfounded using his investigative skills. He has described his journey as, “Seeking the truth; finding God; telling everyone.” His first book after his transformation was titled, The Case for Christianity. He wrote several other books in that series including one that is especially appropriate during this holiday season titled, The Case for the Resurrection.
Jesus described the transformation as a spiritual rebirth. (John 3:1-8) Not every transformation is as dramatic as the ones I have mentioned, but every true believer has been transformed; we know it and gratefully testify to it. Sadly, there are people who are trying to live a Christian life without experiencing transformation. That does not work. We must first be transformed and then live as His Spirit within us guides and empowers us to do.