The Value of Change
God expects His people to learn and grow throughout their lives. If we hold wrong beliefs (opinions), we need to accept that our views are mistaken, and we need to replace those wrong notions with the right views based on universal principles.
Maybe you can identify with this person’s struggle to release destructive opinions:
When I was in church or with my Christian friends, they would just tell me that the behavior was wrong, and I should repent. They didn’t know how many times I had tried quitting, how many times I had tried to be a good Christian. When I found out that God and others accepted me in both my addiction and my helplessness to control it, I began to have hope. When I confessed who I truly was (an addict), and believed that God could change me, I could be honest and I could find friends. That was totally different, and it changed my life.
The first step in this person’s healing was discarding the false belief that change was impossible. He replaced that destructive opinion with these truths:
· God loved him and accepted him as he was.
· Others accepted him as he was.
· He was an addict and needed help.
· God could change him and would change him.
Discarding the false and embracing the truth changed that person’s life. Here’s what the apostle Paul said about his journey from false beliefs to truth:
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15–16)
Change is never easy. Exchanging opinions for principles, false beliefs for truth, is often difficult. But here are the benefits of a transformed life:
· brings peace and fulfillment to the individual
· serves as a model for others, showing them that change is possible
· leads to eternal life with God in heaven