the makeover that almost never ends

My daughter is just a day away from getting braces. And about two years away from a beautiful makeover. Even though it’s a long time, we know there is a beginning and an end.

We don’t have the same luxury of a specified time when it comes to God’s spiritual makeover in us.

The beginning of our makeover happens without us even realizing it. It begins with the Spirit quickening our hearts and we are able to see how desperately we need a makeover. Once we behold the glory of Christ and His sacrificial love for us, we are able to comprehend how greatly we fall short of His beauty. We look in the mirror and we see a person who looks nothing like Jesus. We see our flaws and our sin and we think that it would take a lifetime of makeovers to change us.

And we would be right! It does take a lifetime. That is how it is supposed to be!

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

God tells us that His work in us will not be completed until the day of Jesus Christ. This means a lifetime of makeovers, but don’t let that discourage you! While the work won’t be complete in this lifetime, you will see the progress of mini-makeovers along the way.

• years of resentment giving way to forgiveness
• anger giving way to love
• jealousy’s green hues fading away
• discontentment fleeing in light of gratitude
• addiction losing its grip
• masks coming off

Our flesh is so wrought with sin that at any given moment various areas of our lives will be in one of the following stages of a makeover:

• not even recognizing a particular sin in ourselves
• the Spirit quickening our hearts and opening our eyes
• dismay, regret, and repentance over our sin
• working it out, fighting it {this is the labor of our spiritual growth, or sanctification}
• chains falling as our minds are transformed by the truth of the Word
• seeing a new reflection in the mirror as we behold the work that God has completed thus far
• wearing that retainer (back to the braces analogy) to remain steadfast in our growth thus far and not turn back to the sin that held us captive

If you’ve known Christ for even just a little bit, you can already see the work that He has done in you. Be encouraged by that. Know that God is still at work in you and will not give up on you.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:18

The world almost screams at us that faster is better; and for the most part, we’ve believed it. But if that were true in God’s economy, we would all be instantly glorified (completely made over) the moment we were justified (saved by faith in Jesus Christ). Instead God has provided us a lifetime of being sanctified (growing spiritually). Embrace that! Embrace the process of your spiritual makeover.

Even though you don’t know quite what the final result will be, God surely does. He knew you before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and fashioned you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He knows you and yet loves you. In spite of every flaw and every sin. In Christ, you belong to Him and He will faithfully bring about a makeover that is better than you could have ever imagined. He knows what He is doing. Trust Him.

In hope,
Shelli