1Peter 1:14-16
‘As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”’
Romans 12:2 has a similar message, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” We aren’t to be conformed, but transformed. To be conformed is the natural pathway for us. It’s like comparing it to a fish and how it swims. It’s the natural course is to swim with the current or possibly to stay put. Our fleshly nature wants to follow the climate set by the world and follow our natural appetites.
The “former lusts” spoken of are antichrist. Think of all the human vices. Human wants out of control: greed, lust, power, control and on. These damage us and those around us. These come from the natural cravings of our fleshly nature. We learn to civilize them, but we still feed them.
These were ours “in our ignorance”. Before Christ called us, this is what we did. Some were worse than others, but it’s all we had. When I first began to hear the message, part of me responded eagerly, but I also felt offended. I thought I was a christian. To hear that I wasn’t right with God was difficult. That may have been poor human delivery. I feel I was on my way. The offense may have been a clumbsy delivery from a sincere person. Whatever the case, I wasn’t living in a godly way. I was pursuing my wishes and my appetites.
We are to be holy. Romans 12:2 says we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. He is asking us to do something different than what is natural. He’s saying we aren’t to flow downstream, but to go against the current and go upstream. For a christian, it’s actually natural to do this. We have been given a new natural with craves God and His holy ways. Romans 8:15,16 says, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God”. Just as a child reaches out to it’s parents, so our spirits reaches out to God and His ways.
Romans 12:2 says that we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds”. Even though our spirits yearn for God, we need to give our minds godly instruction. This is usually in opposition to the worlds ways. We learn God’s ways as we read the bible. We learn things like “if someone asks you to go one mile, go with him two”, Matthew 5:41. The world would see this as weak. However, God isn’t threatened by this. He doesn’t want us to be either. It doesn’t mean we’re a pushover. We actually take control when we aren’t threatened and choose to go further. We turn potential abuse into an opportunity to witness for Christ. We only get this from the bible. There are 66 biblical books that have plenty to help us renew our minds.
As we do this, we become holy. A holy life is in opposition to the way of vises. The world mocks us as being slaves to a code and not being able to enjoy ourselves. In reality, we are free. We aren’t involved in the human vices. Another paradox. He also gives us a “joy unspeakable and full of glory”, 1 Peter 1. While the world thinks they are free and having fun, that is only a substitute for the real joy that God’s gives. It’s starts with an inner contentment and goes from there.
Lord, thank You for Your new way. After following it for decades, I have witnessed the freedom that You bring. Thank You for providing a way out of pain and emptiness of the world’s way.