I read two amazing sermons from great preachers of the past last night for some homework. One was from Billy Sunday, the other from A.W. Tozer. Both blew my mind and increased my understanding of God. Ironically, they are both about authenticity and I picked them not knowing they were in sync with one another.
"What does converted mean? It means completely changed. Converted is not synonymous with reformed. Reforms are from without - conversion from within. Conversion is a complete surrender to Jesus. It's a willingness to do what he wants you to do. Unless you have made a complete surrender and are doing his will it will avail you nothing if you've reformed a thousand times and have your name on fifty church records... Maybe you're a drunkard, an adulterer, a prostitute, a liar; won't admit you are lost; are proud. Maybe you're even proud you're not proud, and Jesus has a time of it. Jesus said ‘come to me,’ not to the Church; to me, not to a creed; to me, not to a preacher; to me, not to an Evangelist; to me, not to a priest; to me, not to a pope; ‘Come to me and I will give you rest Faith in Jesus Christ saves you, not faith in the Church.’… God says: ‘Let the wicked man forsake his way.’ The instant that is done, no matter if the man has been a life-long sinner, he is safe. There is no need of struggling for hours – or for days – do it now. Who are you struggling with? Not God. God’s mind was made up long before the foundations of the earth were laid. The plan of salvation was made long before there was any sin in the world. Electricity existed long before there was any car wheel for it to drive. ‘Let the wicked man forsake his way.’ When? Within a month, within a week, within a day, within an hour? No! Now! The instant you yield, God’s plan of salvation is thrown into gear. You will be saved before you know it, like a child being born." –Billy Sunday
So ironic wouldn’t exactly be the word to use because God is never ironic. He has this theme intertwined within my day, whether it has to do with morning prayer, homework, or class, and it’s in these moments that things are strung along together through my day that I know He is there and working in my life. No detail is too small for Him. I know I don’t need some big church service or even the church to know Him. It’s in my every day life that I find Him when I’m looking for Him.
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. – 1 Thess 1:5
“The man who has received the Word without power has trimmed his hedge, but it is a thorn hedge still and can never bring forth the fruits of the new life. Men do not gather grapes from thorns nor figs from thistles. Yet such a man may be a leader in church, and his influence and his vote may go far to determine what religion shall be in his generation.” – A.W. Tozer
2 Corinthians 5:27 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” I know that I don’t just want to be reformed. Anyone can reform their habits and ways. It is only the power of God who can make me new. There should be no remnants of my past self hanging around. I want to have a genuine, authentic relationship and knowledge of God. The proof [fruit] of that is an inside conversion.
So I encourage anyone who reads this… let God be the center of your life. Let Him be your focus. He knows all and is all-powerful. And if you don’t have the faith [trust] that you can be converted into a new creation just look at the little things He does through your day. Look for Him! He is there waiting to create you! Let Him form you into the masterpiece He can only paint.
-Amanda Wilgus XI
