About us extreme makover

“Are you serious? ME? You picked me!?”
Ever watch Extreme Makeover? I don't watch it much, but when I have watched it, I have been struck at how much that program is a metaphor for what believers go through when they give their lives to Jesus and become his followers.

At the beginning of the show, people who feel that they are 'held back' or at a disadvantage in life because of how they look apply to be on the show and to receive all sorts of body modifications to change what they perceive to be negative things about themselves.

The 'fun' begins when you see the incredible reaction of hope and excitement that comes across the faces of those people who are chosen. It is almost disbelief - 'Are you serious? ME? It's going to happen to me?' Laughter, tears of joy and relief, and emotional calls to family and friends to tell them the good news come naturally. It is an incredible and exciting moment!

Then the work begins. Consultations with doctors and other professionals about what is going to happen and how it will happen are made. Discussions about how the changes will impact their life are had. Painful and radical body altering surgeries and procedures are carried out. Things are removed or added, tucked away or fine tuned.

The 'new life' has begun. After the physical changes are made, other professionals step in and add some important finishing touches; hair styles, makeup, clothing, eating and workout regimens and more are brought in to complete the work. Not long after the final touches, the day finally arrives for the 'big reveal' of the changes to their circle of family and friends.

A location is picked, people are invited and the stage is set. No one sees the 'finished product' until just the right time. Everyone waits in anticipation and the person's name is called. They step out into the room to the sounds of applause, cheers, gasps, and more tears of joy and relief.

Jaws drop, mouths hang open and it is apparent that some of the family and friends had no idea that the change in their loved one would be so incredible and wonderful! Weeping and laughter can be heard in the same room. People are amazed and rejoicing with the 'new person'. In some cases, it is truly an extreme makeover!

If only we had eyes to see
As amazing and moving as the scenes are in that TV show, they are nothing compared
to the incredible things that happen to people who turn their lives over to God.

According to His Word, the changes that happen to us when we come into his family
as a follower of Jesus make the TV show's changes pale in significance.

� ALL of our debt for our sin is paid forever
� ALL of Jesus' righteousness is given to us and we are clean in God's sight
� We are reborn and start life over again
� We are raised from the dead
� We are given a new family
� The angels in heaven rejoice and celebrate
� God comes and lives in us
� God takes care of us as we live the new life in His Kingdom
� The power of sin and death are broken and no longer rule over us
� We can confidently approach God because we know of his love for us.

Wow. And that's just a short list. The things that God does in us are so vast that we won't know the full extent of it until we leave this life and enter His presence and live with Him forever.

Someone doesn't want you to know
One of the devil's biggest successes has been to get believers to not think about the things that God both has done and continues to do in our lives as His children. Many times we have bought into the devil's diversionary tactics and have actually played down this enormous change and victory in the lives of people. But we are not unaware of his schemes! We know better than to live and think that way.

We can see from a quick look at the letter to churches in the New Testament and see that the writers go out of their way at times to tell us of the wonderful things that God has done for us. The writers remind us again and again of these great things because when we forget, we tend to lose heart and spirit and to think about ourselves in the wrong way.

Before you know it, we are:
� Anxious about our life and our worth
� Without peace
� Concerned with "What if?" questions
� Doubting God's goodness
� Doubting our salvation
� Fearful of death and the unknown
� Looking for relief or escape in sin
� Filled with guilt and hopelessness
� Afraid that God has rejected us
� Living a lie and hoping no one will see through us and reveal it to others (and sometimes we don't
even realize it!)

Talk about depressing!
Can you imagine living your life like that? Sadly enough, many people do. And they aren't alone. In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul wrote to people who were feeling that way as well:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Why would Paul say that? Because it is the tendency of people to NOT think about the good things that Paul lists off in the above list. Why? Because it's to the devil's advantage if you are down on yourself and never really trust in the incredibly good things that God is doing/has done in you!

Let's Do It!
If you are already a follower of Jesus, let me encourage you to take a new look in a new 'mirror' - the Bible. Get a copy of the Bible and begin to read the following passages of scripture over and over again and begin to realize what they mean for you and who you now are!

• Ephesians 1:1-3:21
• Colossians 1:10-3:16
• 1 Peter 2:9-10
• Romans 5:1-10 & 6:1-6 & 8:1-4 & 15-39
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 & 2:14-16 & 4:1-5:7
• Galatians 3:26-28 & 4:6-7
• Hebrews 2:10-11 & 4:14-16 & 12:7-11

What will that do?
Spend at least six weeks (the average time for an Extreme Makeover on the TV show) going through these basic passages and let them work on your heart & soul. Pray about them and ask God to show you what they mean and what he has done in your life already.

As you read (& maybe even begin to memorize?!) these passages, the Lord Himself will begin to change how you see yourself. You will begin to recognize when the devil is trying to get you to listen to lies about you and God. You will begin to realize that you are a new person with God living inside you and working on you!

In short, you'll begin to see the extreme makeover that God has done in your life! Not only that; others will take notice too. Why? Because when you know what God is doing in you, it begins to show on your face, in your words, in your actions, in your relationships and people will say, “What has happened to you? What has changed about you?” And before you know it, you will have an open invitation to tell them about your 'extreme makeover' in Christ!

If you aren't a follower of Jesus yet, let me invite you to take a close look at who Jesus is and what He offers those who will trust Him. He loves you more than you can know and He invites you to come and join the rest of us who have given our lives to Him