This morning I read Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (KJV)". This is a well known verse to many people and God has certainly made it a very important part of my life and ministry over the past two years. However, this morning the word "renewing" captured my attention as never before.
The literal translation, in the Greek, for the word renewing, is aakaivwois (an-ak-ah' ee-no-sis). This means to renew qualitatively. Therefore, a renewing or a renovation which makes a person different than in the past. (p. 2096, Strong's #342, The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, New American Standard Bible Revised Edition, 1984, 1990, 2008 by AMG International Inc.). So, Romans 12:2 could read, "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing (renovation) of your mind (which makes you different than the past). I don't know about anyone else, but that makes me want dance and sing! God's Word tells me that my mind can be constantly different from my past. The crazy way I thought in my in my immaturity in Christ, those things that made me make some pretty stupid decisions or react like a crazy person (even though I was saved), can change.
Another observation I made was that the word renew is a verb. Therefore, renewing, shows that the action of renew is ongoing. Our minds are not renewed, as in a one time act, but are continuously being made different than before. We don't have to be stuck.
The next thing that got my attention was, the word "renovation" that appeared in the definition for the Greek word for renewing. Wikipedia defines renovation as, "the process of improving a broken or damaged structure." The things we take in or experience in this world (social media, television, magazines, music, pornography, abuse, divorce, trauma, etc.) damage or break our minds to be very different from how God created them.
I know the structure of my mind sustained damage, from the experiences of a painful past, the stress of ministry and major life changes, until it finally broke on December 1, 2012. That brokenness came in the form of panic and anxiety disorder, accompanied by depression. For two years I walked out my illness, as a pastor's wife, on display for our entire congregation and as the Executive Director of a large nonprofit, in front of my staff and volunteers. I needed a renovation, an extreme makeover of the mind. I needed thinking to be made new, to be brought back to life.
If you have ever been involved in the major renovation of a home or building, you know there is a process. I found the process of the physical restoration of a building is similar to the process for the renovation or renewing of our minds.
The Renovation Process
- Planning
- Engineering
- Structural Repair
- Rebuilding
- Finishes
The plan is salvation. God engineered the solution to our sin problem by sending His only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sin debt. We are moved from lost to found; from an eternity in hell to peace with God and eternity in heaven. This happens when we "believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord".
Salvation, through Jesus Christ, is the first step in the renovation of our minds and lives. As the great Engineer, God identified our problem and understands the constraints on our design. He is constantly "working everything for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose". Through salvation we are repaired, rebuilt and God continues to put the finishes on us until the day of redemption, when the renovation will be complete. Hallelujah!
Be encouraged, the renewing of your mind each day brings transformation that will be complete upon the day of redemption. Don't give up but trust the Engineer's plan. The renovation may take longer than you wanted and may cost more than you thought you would want to pay but it will be worth it all, when you see Jesus.
Salvation, through Jesus Christ, is the first step in the renovation of our minds and lives. As the great Engineer, God identified our problem and understands the constraints on our design. He is constantly "working everything for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose". Through salvation we are repaired, rebuilt and God continues to put the finishes on us until the day of redemption, when the renovation will be complete. Hallelujah!
Be encouraged, the renewing of your mind each day brings transformation that will be complete upon the day of redemption. Don't give up but trust the Engineer's plan. The renovation may take longer than you wanted and may cost more than you thought you would want to pay but it will be worth it all, when you see Jesus.
