Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/88

Contributor - Rev. Tom Welscott

Title - Turning Over a New Leaf

Topic - Change

How many times have you encountered someone who has informed you that he was 'turning over a new leaf, perhaps referring to an old habit that was not particularly becoming or healthy. Maybe that person was a chain smoker, and you affirmed the wisdom in such a direction. Then you met that person one year later, and you observe that he is still smoking. Upon inquiring about his stated attempt to 'turn over a new leaf, he informs you that at least it's not as bad as it used to be.

Why is it that change comes so hard? There are many reasons, but probably most important for our thoughts today is that we are creatures of habit. Being creatures of habit means that change does not come naturally. An English theologian, John W.R. Stott says to dip our heels and our toes deep into the status quo, and firmly to resist that most uncomfortable of experiences; change."

Many people today are under the mistaken impression that entrance into a spiritual relationship with Christ happens when we have changed ourselves to meet God's standards. Thus, no matter how often we hear the good news of the Christian message that the gift of God is free; we keep on working to better ourselves to reach what we think may be acceptable to God. The true meaning of grace is defined in Ephesians 2:8 and 9 which says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast. "

There are many support groups today which are designed to help people with particular problems 'turn over a new leaf. As a Christian we said that God does not expect us first to change ourselves and all of our bad habits before we come to Him. However, that does not mean that improvement is not in God's plan and desire for each of us. The exciting element of this process is that God provides us with an inner strength and presence in us through His Spirit.

We are told in II Corinthians that after we come to Jesus Christ and accept His free gift by faith, He will make us into a new creation. Notice it does not say that we have to make ourselves into a new creation, but He is a resource to do that work for us. It is like Him replacing that old patched shirt with a brand new one. How we explain that work of the Spirit of God in our lives is not easy because we are talking about things that are not always observable.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, a religious leader of that day, who was impressed with the mighty signs that Jesus was doing. He was so impressed that he went to talk to Jesus. Men in his position were not supposed to converse with this radical Jesus, so he slipped in to see Jesus under the cover of darkness. Jesus immediately introduces into their conversation the topic of spiritual birth which puzzled this intelligent religious leader. Jesus 'goes on to say that the spirit which brings about this spiritual birth often works like the wind. You can hear the wind, you can see the results of the wind, but you can't see the wind. Jesus says that so too it is with the spirit that is available to each who comes to Jesus in faith asking Him lo transform us from within. When that happens we can be successful in 'turning over a new leaf because there is an inner spiritual resource that becomes available to us.

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