Results may vary

Today I sit at my desk and am reflecting on how much of a difference the Lord has made in my life. We’re all familiar with those “before and after” pictures used in advertising. From the guys with hair loss, to the teen with complexion problems, to Jared Fogle the guy who lost all that weight eating only Subway sandwiches. We all know the lure of seeing potential great change by the way things are advertised. Most of us have probably tried a product before based solely on the potential seen in "before and after" pictures. Whether it’s ads for weight-loss products, exercise programs, or hair replacement procedures, most people’s results are less than what's advertised. Usually somewhere in the fine print is a qualifying statement that says something like, “Results may vary.”

But what about the Christian life and the "effect" the Lord seeks to have on our lives? You'd probably agree that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present. You'd also probably agree that God desires to make us into the image of Christ. With that agreement, why is there the fact that "results vary" from Christian to Christian? Paul writing to the church at Ephesus said "God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). So the variance in results must mean that if there is a breakdown in our Christians lives and a failure to experience the "best results", it is not God’s fault, but our own. But lest you read this and are only discouraged by any failures on your part, I want you to be encouraged by the difference that God has made and is in the process of making in your life.

There are two examples from Scripture that show what God can and wants to do in your life and mine. The 1st example is Mary Magdalene. She is probably the most prominent of the women who accompanied Jesus. She is named in all four Gospels as a witness to Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Luke tells us in Luke 8:2 that Mary had seven demons exercised from her. Many have confused her with the Mary that was a prostitute but they are two different women. Mary Magdalene was a person of means and as a companion of the wife of Herod’s steward, was a woman of high social status. She was also a woman in need of spiritual transformation.

We know that at some point Jesus came into Mary’s life, cast out the demons, and she became a devoted follower. From that point forward, she financially supported the ministry, and she was faithful to stand by Jesus during his crucifixion, burial and was the first to see him resurrected. Mary Magdalene, before and after, what a pretty picture!

The 2nd example is Simon Peter. He's pictured as a redneck fisherman; a prideful guy who knew everything about anything. His pride led him to say that no matter what the other disciples did, he would never turn his back on Jesus. Peter is an example to us of how the Lord often has to first break us before making us into what He'd have us to be. Jesus invested a lot of time and energy into Peter in preparing him to become the man He wanted him to be; about 3 years of teaxching and training. But the real transformation of Peter came after the bragging, after the denial, Peter's life was changed a few days after the resurrection.

In John 21, early one morning, on the shore of the sea of Galilee the resurrected Jesus made the disciples breakfast. No one said a word until Jesus singled him out and said, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Three times Jesus asked Peter the same question. The third time, John wrote, “Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’” (Jn. 21:17). Peter responded by saying, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” In spite of all that had happened, in spite of the fact that Peter had failed, Jesus still wanted Peter, and still wanted Peter to be a leader in the kingdom. It is as if Jesus wanted to give Peter the chance to make up for his three denials by giving three affirmations. It was Peter who preached the sermon on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. He was a faithful, though not perfect (you remember Paul had to confront him on one occasion), church leader the rest of his days. Peter, before and after, wow!

The “before and after” pictures in our lives are continually changing, and hopefully for the better. If you are like me, then you can pinpoint a number of significant moments in your spiritual journey. Maybe it was the moment of conversion, or your baptism, or some other significant spiritual marker in your life. There have likely been numerous ups and downs; times of spiritual highs and spiritual lows, of spiritual victory and spiritual defeat. I thank God for both the fact I'm not what I once was and also that I'm still not yet all that I will be. What about you? How is your “before and after” picture looking? In what areas of your life do you need to make greater spiritual progress?