What is a REVOLUTION? It is defined by the English Dictionary as “a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or is organized or in people’s ideas about it.” As Christians, we need to strive to be revolutionary in the way the we think, live, and act. In a world that tells us to be selfish, strive for success, and do whatever we want, we need to let Christ shine in and through us so that we do not fall into that trap. By standing up for our faith, living obediently to God, and loving others the way that Christ loves us, we truly can become a REVOLUTION.
How to become a REVOLUTION…
1. Allow God to Change Your Heart
We cannot become a REVOLUTION by simply changing what we say, how we act, and what we do. We must allow God to change our hearts and transform us from the inside out. Romans 2:29a says, “A true Jew is one whose hear is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit.” It is not about the integrity of our words and actions, but the condition of our hearts. In order to become a REVOLUTION, allow your prayer to be like that of David in Psalm 51:10-12. “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”
2. Set Yourself Apart From the Sin of This World
Sin is everywhere. It is very easy, if we are not careful, to get involved with things that cause us to sin. In order to become a REVOLUTION, we must prepare ourselves to face the sin of this world and separate ourselves from anything that might cause us to stumble. Romans 12:1 says, “And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead you to give your bodies to God because of all he as done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.” We must surrender everything that we have to God and allow Him to have full control of our lives. To be a living sacrifice is that we allow ourselves to die to our personal agendas, desires, and goals in order for God to be the pilot of our life. To be holy means to be “set apart”. We need to be set apart from the sin in this world and live our lives obediently to God. That is what it truly means to be a REVOLUTION.
3. Change How You View and Perceive the World
The biggest barrier to becoming a REVOLUTION is that we struggle to see the world through the eyes of Christ. Instead of using God’s Word to evaluate how we live, how we act, and what we say, we view and perceive the world through the eyes of our friends, the media, and our situation. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy he behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” If we want to become a REVOLUTION, we cannot allow our minds to be transformed by what our friends do or what we see on TV. We must allow God and His Word transform us by renewing our mind through the way we view and perceive the world.
4. Don’t Try to Fit In
Too many people spend their lives trying to fit in. They strive to impress others with what they own, who they know, and how clever they can be. The problem is that trying to fit in can cause us to say, act, and do things that are not honoring to God. Becoming a REVOLUTION involves taking a stand for what you believe in and going against the status quo. Romans 2:29b says, “And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” Someone who is a REVOLUTION is someone who is seeking to honor God and is not trying to fit in. As Christians, we are not supposed to fit in. If we are living for God, we are going to stand out and look weird to the world. 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” If we want to be a REVOLUTION, we must avoid falling into the trap of feeling like we need to fit in.
