We all know that we as “born again” Christians haven’t “arrived” yet, but as long as we live in this life, we are a “work in progress”. Most of us will admit that God has a lot of work still to do in us, at least I know He does in me. And while I’m not where I want to be, I can surely see that I’m not where I was a year ago, or five years ago, or twenty years ago, but still growing. I wish that process of growing in the LORD worked faster, but it isn’t God that is causing the delay, it’s always me. And I’m so thankful for His patience and grace.


What shall we be? Well, it’s written in 1 John 3:1-11,
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Sometimes we are quick to comply with the Word of God, and progress comes quickly, but at other times we just want to do what humans do best, and that is, we want to have it OUR WAY.

Have you ever noticed that people who want things “their way” are very selfish people? And selfish people find it very difficult to “love one another”. Why? Because their first love is the “big three”: Me, Myself, and I. And if there’s any love left over after all that, THEN they might try to save some crumbs of love for others. They MIGHT. Maybe. Then again, maybe not. It depends “what’s in it for them”.

The Apostle Paul talked at some length about “conversion”, that is letting the “new creature in Christ Jesus” take over our whole being; spirit, soul, and body. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21,
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

You see, when we become “born again”, God renews our SPIRIT. But we still have the same soul and the same body. He gives us the ability to become sons and daughters of God. So, we’ll say you go to church one day and ask Christ Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. What happens? Your SPIRIT is born again. That’s God’s job to make that happen. Now comes YOUR part: YOU are to renew your SOUL by putting the Word of God in your eyes and in your ears and in your mouth, which in turn brings your BODY into subjection to God. It isn’t an instant process bringing your soul and body into line with God’s Word, it’s a PROCESS called CONVERSION. It’s how YOU, that is your personality, your essence, your being becomes a “new creature in Christ Jesus”.

Did you know that Word of God has such a powerful effect on your body, that as you put God’s Word in your spirit and soul, that sickness can be driven out of it? It is written in Psalm 103:2-5,
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Now, I don’t know about YOU, but when I got born again in July 1993, the LORD told me to look up Psalm 103:2-3, and I did, and told Him, LORD, I just asked You to forgive my sins, does that mean you’re going to heal me, too? He said, “I already did.” You see, I had just been diagnosed with melanomas and liver cancer and given three weeks or less to live. That was twenty seven years ago. What did I become? Saved and HEALED! And the longer I walk with the LORD, the more I see myself being changed by His Word. Did I have any part in that? Yes, I had to align my soul and body with what was going on in my spirit. And if YOU want to be a new creature every day in Christ Jesus, YOU will also have to yield your soul and body unto Christ Jesus so He can indeed make you that NEW CREATION IN CHRIST JESUS.

I’ve not yet “arrived”, as I said earlier, but it’s a process, and though it isn’t always fast, the LORD knows what He’s doing with each one of us. If we will stick with the program, when our time in this life is over, WHAT WILL WE BE? Have another look at 1 John 3:2,
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The process isn’t always easy or fast or pleasant, but consider the prize that awaits us: WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM! Glory to God, that’s something to shout about!