SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1055

“Information Transformation”

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… (James 1:22-25)

AW Tozer once stated: “We can know the right words yet never be changed. This is the difference between information and transformation.” This statement gave me pause. Why is it that given irrefutable information to change our behavior, that we instead continue in our old ways and refuse to be transformed by that information? We are informed of the dangers of using tobacco products, recreational drugs and alcohol, texting while driving, seat belt use etc. yet for many people that information fails to bring about a transformational change of behavior.

This is also evident in our spiritual lives as well. We are informed through preaching, teaching, and the reading of the Word of God – some moved to tears by what they hear. Yet, they leave the same way they came in, unchanged. I believe this is what the Bible refers to as ‘hardened hearts’ – they know the right words yet never change remaining hearers only and not doers.

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts….” (Hebrews 3:15)

Some people flat out refuse to believe in God at all despite the informational evidence all around them. The Bible says there is no excuse for this.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

As believers, if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit to having hardened our heart in some behavioral areas of our life that we refuse to change in obedience to the Word of God as well. So we too have fallen short of God’s expectation, choosing instead to be conformed to the world.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

We are inundated and bombarded with a cacophony of information in today’s connected society. Much of it is useless noise, some of it toxic falsehood and outright lies. We must discipline ourselves to quiet the ‘noise’ and spend quality time in fellowship with God. Set your phone on Do Not Disturb, turn the TV and radio off, shut down the computer devices and get into the Word in prayer. We need ‘ears to hear’ that comes by faith in order to be changed and transformed by the Truth of the Word of God.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

May you clearly hear and discern the Truth of God’s Word to you and may that Word bring about the transformation He desires for your life as He guides you in a closer walk with Jesus.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)