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Transformers
Thursday, May 28, 2015 by Vicki Dorshorn

This picture was taken on my trip to L.A. for the Movieguide Gala earlier this year. The moment I walked into the Prop House on the Paramount Studio lot, I saw Bumblebee towering over all other props. I knew that was a photo op.

One of my grandsons has recently outgrown his fascination for the Transformers; but then, does one ever totally outgrow them? I remember that my sons enjoyed the first generation version of them in the 1980s (when Bumblebee transformed from a VW bug).

After this encounter with Bumblebee, I have to admit that I soon watched all the Transformer movies—for the first time. Yes, I was a little slow to catch on, but now I'm a fan.

Seriously, though, when I hear the term "transformer," I think of Romans 12: 2, which says, "And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God."

The transformative power of the Word of God is second only to its redemptive power. That is, the Word of God tells us what we need to know to be transformed (moved) from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (redemption). Then the Word, as we study it and grow in it, 2 Peter 3: 18, can transform (change) our minds so that we think right thoughts and do right deeds.

But the whole process is not just an impersonal act of reading the Bible. It is getting acquainted with the very Son of God, Jesus Christ, who loves us and gave Himself for us. We cannot even imagine what He gave up to save us and to transform us.

As we get to know Him, we grow in His grace and knowledge. Helping this growth is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. And this is all so that our life here can be transformed even as our eternal destiny in heaven is sealed—by grace through faith.

The Holy One of Israel, our Heavenly Father, loves us this much, that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us that we might be saved, made whole, and transformed. And having a personal relationship with all persons of the Trinity is part of the transformative process which happens as we study the Word of God, the Bible.

That's a transformation that is always positive, is not revocable, and is beneficial. It is a transformation from the inside out, a change in the very nature of a being, unlike the transformation that the devil and the fallen angels (and some humans) undergo when they masquerade as something good while retaining their evil nature.

The apostle Paul spoke of that which the evil one practices in 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15, where he uses a different Greek word for "transformed" than he uses in Romans 12: 2. In speaking of the devil and host in 2 Corinthians, the Greek word means "disguise" and refers to a deceptive appearance. Sounds like the Decepticons, a word which blends "deception" and "conniving" (or "con artist").

I'll take the Autobots any day (especially Bumblebee, whom I have seen). And I'll definitely take the Romans 12: 2 transformation—the inside out change into something better.

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