Pastoral Messages by Matriarch Elnette Edwards
Dear family,
Transformation is God’s goal for every believer—not just saving us from sin’s penalty but transforming us into Christ’s image. Salvation is instantaneous; transformation is progressive. It’s the lifelong process of becoming who God created us to be, shedding the old nature and putting on the new.
Paul tells us that we’re being transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit. This means transformation happens gradually, progressively, continually. We don’t arrive at perfection this side of heaven, but we should be different today than we were yesterday, different this year than last year. If we’re not changing, we’re not growing.
I look back at who I was twenty, thirty, forty years ago, and I’m amazed at how much God has changed me. Attitudes that once controlled me no longer have power. Fears that once paralyzed me have been replaced with faith. Habits that once enslaved me have been broken. Wounds that once defined me have been healed. That’s transformation, and it’s ongoing.
Transformation happens through several means. First, the Word of God—as we read and meditate on Scripture, it renews our minds and transforms our thinking. Second, the Spirit of God—He works internally, convicting, guiding, and empowering change. Third, the people of God—community shapes us as we learn from others, receive correction, and encourage one another. Fourth, the circumstances God allows—trials, challenges, and even suffering refine our character.
But transformation requires our cooperation. God won’t force change on unwilling hearts. We must yield to His work, obey His promptings, and actively pursue growth. We can’t be passive about transformation—we must engage with the process, even when it’s uncomfortable.
I’ve also learned that transformation often involves pain. Old patterns must die for new ones to emerge. Comfortable sins must be confronted. Cherished idols must be torn down. Deeply ingrained thinking must be renewed. This is painful, but it’s necessary. We can’t be transformed without dying to self.
Transformation is also evidence of genuine salvation. If someone claims to be Christian but shows no change over time—same attitudes, same behaviors, same priorities—there’s reason to question whether genuine conversion occurred. True salvation produces transformation. The proof isn’t perfection but progressive change.
However, transformation happens at different paces for different people. We must not compare our journey to others’ or judge those whose transformation looks different than ours. God works uniquely in each person, addressing different issues at different times. Some areas change quickly; others require years of patient work.
I’ve battled impatience with my own transformation. There are areas where I desperately wanted immediate change, but God worked slowly, addressing foundational issues before surface behaviors. I’ve learned to trust His timing and process, believing that He who began a good work will complete it.
Transformation should also produce fruit—the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should increasingly characterize us. These aren’t manufactured through self-effort but produced as the Spirit transforms us from within.
The ultimate goal of transformation is Christlikeness. We’re being conformed to His image, taking on His character, reflecting His nature. This is the highest calling and greatest privilege—to become like Jesus, displaying His love to a watching world.
Where do you need transformation? What area of your life still doesn’t reflect Christ? Don’t be discouraged by how far you still have to go—celebrate how far you’ve come. Submit that area to God’s transforming work. Cooperate with His Spirit. Trust the process. You’re being transformed from glory to glory, and one day, when you see Him, you’ll be completely like Him. Until then, keep yielding to His transforming touch.
Being transformed daily,
Matriarch Elnette Edwards
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