"I was personally unknown to the churches
of Judea that are in Christ.
They only heard the report:
'The man who formerly persecuted us
is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.'
And they praised God because of me."
Galatians 1:22-24
The change was remarkable. Physically, the once large, lumbering teenager became a tall, thin young man as 60 pounds of extra weight melted away. Emotionally, the former trouble maker who had been kicked out of school multiple times and spent several months in juvenile detention for fighting and confronting the school resource officers now became a mentor for other young men, leading them toward the Light. Spiritually, the once self-proclaimed atheist who couldn't care less about the things of God, transformed into a young man who invited Jesus into his life and who wanted to go to church and learn more about the One who made him for a purpose.
There is nothing as powerfully influential as a changed life. No other message for repentance is as strong as the significance found in observing the transformed life.
Enemy to Friend
The diminutive man was hated by all. His very presence drew looks of scorn and words of ridicule. As a tax-collector for the Roman invaders, he used his position for his own benefit, inviting even more contempt from his own people.
When he heard Jesus was in town, however, his heart was drawn toward the Healer and Teacher. Whatever it was that this man had, Zacchaeus wanted some of it. His life was empty of meaning and he was tired of living for himself, ignoring all the hurt his actions were causing. (Luke 19:1-10)
The life of Zacchaeus changed the day he encountered Jesus. He went from a man considered to be the enemy of the Jewish people to one who went out of his way to make restitution.
In a similar way, I went from being dead in my sins and an object of God's wrath to one who was made alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:1-5)
Faith in Jesus Christ made me, an enemy of God, into His friend. (Colossians 1:21,John 15:15)
Destroyer to Harvester
"ummm. . . Lord. . . are you sure you want me to go see that man? I have heard of all the terrible things he has done against your people: killings, beatings, imprisonments. This is the man you want me to lay my hands upon so you can restore his sight?"
Ananias, a believer from Damascus, was worried for good reason. Saul was the worst enemy of the first church. He did all he could to destroy their mission, persecuting them without mercy. And Ananias was supposed to believe that he was the one chosen to take God's message to the the world? (Acts 9:1-19)
Only God could turn one who was the biggest destroyer of the Gospel message to the most influential harvester of it's fruit.
Glory to God
There was no other explanation: She was a virgin, pledged to be married, yes, but still pure. Suddenly, she showed up around town with child. People were talking, spreading rumors that she had secretly slept with another man, but no one knew who it could be. How else could she be pregnant unless she had been with a man? The answer, however, lay hidden within a message delivered by the angel Gabriel to the young woman. (Luke 1:35)
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and implanted the Christ child within her womb. No matter what people assumed, the only explanation for her unwed pregnancy was that it was the work of the hand of God: only He could accomplish such a feat as this.
In the same way, only God can get the glory for the transformation of a changed life. No amount of willpower, motivation or inspiration can bring about the radical change that Jesus creates.
When others witness the amazing alterations in a person's life, God then gets all the glory for the great things He has done.
God uses changed people to change people. Seeing how He can turn an enemy into a friend and a destroyer into a harvester makes people sit up and take notice, resulting in God receiving all the credit for what He has accomplished. What influence upon the world is God having through my changed life? (2 Corinthians 6:16-17)
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