Transformed – Not Conformed

God is not impressed by outside appearances. Rather, He’s concerned with the inward.

In choosing David over his brothers, the Lord said, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b)

God’s sees the inward man, not the costumes and facades we put on, and His desire is to see us transformed through the inward working of the Holy Spirit, and stop being changed by the surrounding world.

The Bible says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Unfortunately, most Christians are conformed rather than transformed.

To conform means to mold or form something based upon something else. It’s an outward change that takes place. Kind of like the surrounding landscape. The effects of wind, rain, and temperature have changed the landscape.

We as Christians are being changed the same way, and that’s because the world requires and demands conformity. But as Christians we must stand firm and remain resolute in our convictions. There’s no room for compromise.

And so, Paul is not only warning, but also commanding Christians to stop this practice. He’s saying, “Hey, stop masquerading in the costume of this world.”

As Christians we have become conformed in other ways, not only to the world, but also to the illusion of what we think Christianity is. Therefore, a form of superficiality occurs, where instead of worldly costumes, we start putting on Christian mannerisms, speech, expressions, styles, and habits.

It’s what Paul describes will happen in the end times where people will have the form of godliness but deny where it comes from, that is, Jesus Christ.