You don’t need to change anything to come to Jesus, but when you come to Jesus everything will change. That’s the point. Jesus participated in human nature so that we might “participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). To follow Jesus, therefore, you must be prepared to die to your old corrupt self. He wants to transfigure you into the person you really are. As Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain revealed who he really was, so will your transfiguration reveal who you really are. That Jesus’ transfiguration followed his declaration that he would die and rise again is no accident. For it was through his death and resurrection that Jesus demonstrated who he really was. So too, we can only become who we truly are by following him; by dying and rising to a new life. To live the new life in Christ, you must die to the old life. There is no other way. This is why Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. To step up into your true self, you must sacrifice your false self. As you do this you will be liberated. True freedom is the power to say “no” to yourself. It is liberation from the life of the flesh, to live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). God will not improve your old life. He wants to set you free from it and give you a new life. You can come as you are, but you cannot stay as you are.
What is God dismantling in your life right now?
Read Luke 9:18-36
