Chapter 21
As a young man with a supportive family, “Mark Rivera” completed his degree, yet has remained undecided about what to do with his life after college. Just like the majority of people who decided to commit their lives in preaching the gospel, “Rivera” has gone through a difficult process before finally committing his time and effort to preach the word of God.
His family and even himself do not have any inkling that he will someday become a preacher of the word of God. While he was a good young man by societal standard, and that his family was considered religious, his thoughts and plans were geared towards achieving material prosperity. A person who was not content with his life, he was constantly seeking until such time that he got into that opportunity that eventually transformed his life forever. Further, it was during the time of emotional distress brought about by several failures in achieving worldly honor and possessions that Rivera reached the base of spiritual transformation.
While his transformation into a man of God did not just happen overnight, it was a change that was brought to him by the Holy Spirit. Rivera’s motivation to seek spiritual change was founded on the Scripture, particularly in Philippians 2:13 which says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure”. Rivera’s transformation from a man who was material seeking, into a spiritual being was made possible by allowing the Spirit of God dwell within him. He proved that spiritual transformation is possible when one, with the grace of God, aims to endure in humbleness, submission and faith. This transformative event was considered as a way of being born again, so that one’s life is no longer the same as before, but has gone through changes that transformed it into something better. The nature of spiritual transformation as exemplified by “Rivera” means that his spiritual faith which was once a peripheral part of life, now plays a vital and major role in his existence.
In his transformed life, “Rivera” knew that he may not become successful to live a completely changed life without God’s power. With this realization, he continued to preach the word of God, emulating Jesus Christ and letting people appreciate that the act of imitating Christ is a great privilege. In this context, spiritual transformation is referred to as an essential process of re-organization where an individual will have a better identity and finds more meaning and purpose in life than it used to be.
In going through the conversion experience, and demonstrating a steadfast commitment in the spiritual life, one learns to pray for grace and the emptying of the heart from unworthy feelings such as those that leads to pain and anxiety. One instead is happy in seeking heavenly wisdom and find joy in one’s unquestionable faith in the Almighty God. “Rivera” believed that in order to freely claim that one is fully transformed and that Christ resides within, there is a need to demonstrate to others the evident truth that one is united with the Almighty. Consequently, one should constantly demonstrate love, peace, happiness, serenity, compassion, faithfulness, calmness and self-control. A religious transformation involved bringing one’s core values and attitudes in line with God, as well as influencing people to be led spiritually.
In a way, the Cleansed Life by Samuel Logan Brengle and the Powerful Life by Charles Grandison Finney has a similarity with the Transformed Life. In the Brengle’s article, the spiritual effectiveness was said to be an impact of the flow of divinity, which was “made possible because the channel had been cleansed and was kept clean”. This has some similarity with the transformed life, in a way that both talked about the living a life that is completely changed through the power of the Almighty God. Just as spiritual transformation needed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so does the Cleansed Life which depended on the flow of divine life.
Further, one can also say that the Transformed Life has certain similarities with the Powerful Life of Charles Finney. Just like Rivera in the Transformed Life, Finney was converted in an unexpected and unlikely manner. The narration was clear of Finney being ignorant about the teaching of the Christian faith, but his belief in God leads him to read the Bible. The readings paved the way for him to think about his spiritual salvation. Nevertheless, Finney was a very busy man and he realized that building a committed relationship with God requires his full attention. Consequently, he decided to avoid dealings that might distract his attention from the goal of saving his soul. Similarly, “Rivera” realize that his commitment towards spiritual transformation can only be complete when one renounces the persevering interest on material things. This is in addition to the fact that the transformation of “Rivera” was also unexpected.
Bibliography
Edman, R. (1984). They Found the Secret: Twenty Lives that Revea a Touch of Eternity
