Thursday April 30, 1992, will probably not mean a whole lot to you, but for me it was the day when I was baptized. I was the last kid in the family to be baptized, I’m not really sure what I was waiting on and neither did my parents. That evening I got up from my seat during the invitation, walked up front, and was baptized.

My parents didn’t even know who went forward until everyone sat down after standing to sing the invitation song (I wasn’t sitting with them). After my sins were washed away, I put back on my blue t-shirt, black jeans and had to take the time to peg them (Yes, I am a child of the 80’s). I woke up Friday morning and I still lived with my parents, still went to school, still worked at the bakery, just like I had done on Wednesday. Everything was the same, yet everything was different. I was now a Christian.

As a child in the 80’s with two brothers, l played with Transformers and watched the cartoon. They were little cars that you could move pieces around and have a different looking toy, a robot. It was the same toy, but different. In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Paul says if you were a servant before you were called (baptized), afterwards you were to go back being a servant, a Christian servant. Your physical status and occupation was still the same, but your spiritual was different. You were transformed. You are the same on the outside, but spiritually you need to be making decisions that follow God’s will.

Since our physical appearance hasn’t changed, I suppose we could hide our Christianity rather easily. We could continue doing the things people around us are doing, after all they are “Christians” too, but we need to be careful with whom we follow and conform to in this world. We need to look at our fellow “Christian” friends and ourselves with our Bible glasses on. If we or our friends are not doing what the Bible says, (the whole Bible, no picking pieces here and there that fit our lifestyle) we are not a faithful follower of God. If we pick and choose what we want, are we really being transformed according to His will or are we just conforming to the world?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

Not conforming, not doing what the world is doing, can be so tough at times. We all feel the pressure of our peers, of social media, of wanting to get the likes, laughs, and loves, wanting to look “normal” and trying to fit in with the crowd. Believe me when I say in the 32 years since that night I was baptized the struggle has been real, but it’s worth it. It’s not always easy to do all of the things perfectly. We are human and fail. The thing about being a faithful follower of God is that He does not require us to live a perfect life. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to keep His commandments. He wants us to love Him and others. But He also provides grace and mercy and forgiveness.

We can either give in completely or we can stand strong in our faith with God’s help.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Ephesians 6:11-18

Satan will try everything to get you to conform to this world, but you have a stay strong and live a transformed life. Our spiritual side needs to shine through this dark world.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Let’s not hide amongst the world. Let’s let our lights shine so that our Father in heaven will be glorified. Be different because we are supposed to be different, that is what not being conformed means.

When the Transformers were cars, they looked just like every other car in the cartoon. When they transformed they were able to protect the world and destroy the bad guys.

When we are transformed and have renewed our minds and are thinking with the mind of Christ (Phillipians 2:5), we will be protecting our souls, trying to save others and slowly destroying Satan. Be a transformed Christian, be more than meets the eye!

By: Kristina Odom