No Longer Me..but forever You (Process of Transformation)

There is a transformation that takes place when Jesus initiates a call to follow, and as we respond by laying down our lives.  We transform by dying to our old self and living a new life through Christ at the helm.  I must confess, that I wish this was an instantaneous transformation.  Yet, it is described in Isaiah 64:8, that He is the potter and we are his clay.  We also have seen the skits of God being an artist who is slowly sculpting his masterpiece (us). These comparisons show us the transformation process, something that identifies 3 main things to me.  The first being that we as followers are to look different that we did before.  It is no longer a life slave to sin and purpose for self only, but a life that is a slave to righteousness with a definitive purpose from the creator of the universe.  Second, we see that the potter/artist (God/Jesus) is the only one who does the molding/sculpting.  The clay/sculpture is not the one making changes to itself.  Clay doesn't mold itself.  Yet, ironically most of us try to cleanse ourselves, or try to act the "Christian way" to appease the Lord.  This is foolish!  We are too sinful to ever be able to live a holy life on our own.  We cannot fight temptation, we will lose every time.  Our thoughts are not pure, we cannot love unconditionally.  This is important to identify as followers of Christ.  Jesus is the only way we can be reconciled of sin, and following Him is the only way to pursue holiness.  He will take control and weed out the sinfulness.  The potter will mold his clay, the artist will chisel away at the masterpiece, for He wants His followers to experience the abundant life through him.  Lastly, I see that this transformation is a process on God's timing.  The illustration of the potter and the clay is an accurate way of showing us the type of care God has for our lives.  The potter uses his own hands in a intimate process where he spends time erecting his piece from a lifeless clay.  He spends time adding and removing, spinning and molding, and doesn't stop until he has his finished product.  Then like any good potter, He is pleased with his work.  This is the same process that God uses to work in our lives.  We are on earth only for a fraction of a second, compared to eternity.  God uses that time whether it's 30 minutes on your death bed to 70 years of life to mold you into his masterpiece.  Give up control, do not be the believer who doesn't follow.  Satan and the demons acknowledge who Christ is, we are not only expected to believe but to respond to the call to follow and be transformed. Allow God to take control of your life and begin a work in you.  He aims to bring you an abundant life, fill you with his Spirit of peace and purpose. It is a process, that is on his time, but it is not for us to worry about.  The God of the universe is our potter.  We were wonderfully made by the creator of the heavens and earth, and for us followers He has promised to continue His work in us, and has given us the reward of eternity with Him.  No longer be you, controlled by self, living for you, but be a new work in Christ, be transformed, fulfill a divine purpose for your life.