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there can be little doubt that Rom. 12: 1, 2 is an appeal for a life which is beautiful with
holiness--beautiful in its separation from the things of this life.
Again, like the word for `conform', the word translated `transform' is a compound:
meta-morphoomai, meta having the significance of `in the presence of' or `in the midst
of'. The perfect illustration of the whole word is to be found in the account of the
Transfiguration, where both Matthew and Mark make the clear statement, He `was
transfigured before them'. He changed to a new condition before the disciples, and at
that moment was not associated with them in any way. So the believer should be
changed to a new condition before the world, in no sense in association with them. It is
not surprising to discover that the word Paul has used is exactly the word used by the
evangelists to describe the change which took place in the Lord: Be not conformed, but
be transfigured. The Lord became obviously different from the disciples; the believer
should increasingly become obviously different from those of this age. This is what Paul
desires for the believer, that he should become obviously different from those in the
world among whom he lives.
We have already said that the believer's relationship with the will of God is not as
easy as some would have us believe. This Scripture makes this point quite plain: "Yield
yourselves a living sacrifice". It is a sacrifice which goes on day by day, week by week,
month by month, year by year: there is a cost to the reasonable service. Yet compared
with the compassions of God, and in the light of the increasing assessment that the will of
God is good, and well pleasing, and perfect, how small is the cost! Nonetheless, the cost
must be faced squarely first.
This aspect has to be faced before transfiguration can begin. The Lord Himself faced
this question before His transfiguration.
"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go
unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be
killed . . . . . And after six days Jesus . . . . . was transfigured before them" (Matt. 16: 21
and 17: 1, 2).
And there, on the mount of Transfiguration He entered into a foretaste of the joy that
was set before Him. He, `for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame' (Heb. 12: 2). He knew the will of the Father to be good, and well pleasing,
and perfect, and that its fulfillment could only result in glory.
Considering the compassions of God, and the eternal weight of glory which will result
from our fulfillment of the will of God for us, in spite of the sacrifice involved, we should
be living a transfigured life, which is a foretaste of the joy and glory which is set before
us.
By the mercies of God, I beseech you! What compassion God has shown to us! He
gave His Son for us a Sacrifice for sin on the cross; by Christ's death on the cross we are
justified by faith and the righteousness of God is reckoned to us; we are members of the
Church which is His Body; hence, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in