Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passes away;
behold, all things are become new.
– Paul (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“No, my dear Beast, you shall not die,” said Beauty. “You will live to become my husband. I give you my hand, and I swear that I belong only to you from this moment on. Alas! I thought that I only felt friendship for you, but the torment I am feeling makes me realize that I cannot live without you.”
Beauty had scarcely uttered these words when the castle radiated with light. Fireworks and music announced a feast. These attractions did not hold her attention, though. She returned her gaze to her dear beast, whose dangerous condition made her tremble. How great was her surprise when she discovered that the Beast had disappeared, and at her feet was a prince more handsome than Eros himself, who thanked her for putting an end to his enchantment.
It is the deepest and most wonderful of all mythic truths, unveiled here in the original Beauty and the Beast, written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The Transformation. The reNEWal. A creature that no one could bear to look upon is transformed into a handsome prince. That which was dark and ugly is now glorious and good. Is it not the most beautiful outcome of any story to be written? Perhaps that is because it is the deepest yearning of the human heart. How often do these themes surface in our lives?
The phoenix rises from the ashes. Cinderella rises from rags to become a queen. The ugly duckling becomes a beautiful swan. Pinocchio becomes a real boy. The frog becomes a prince. The Cowardly Lion gets his courage and the Scarecrow gets his brains and the Tinman gets a new heart. The caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly. In hope beyond hope, they are all transformed into the very thing they never thought they could be.
And we?
We are enchanted by tales of transformation? Why, because it is an essential part of any great story? Because it is the story and secret to Christianity, and Christianity is the secret to the universe. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). You must be transformed. Keeping the Law, following the rules, polishing up your manners—none of that will do. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people (Gal. 6:15). Is this not the message of the gospel? Zacchaeus the trickster becomes Zacchaeus the Honest One. Mary the whore becomes Mary the Last of the Truly Faithful. Paul the self-righteous murderer becomes Paul the Humble Apostle.
And we?
Paul the abusive womanizer becomes Paul the Loving and Devoted Husband. Michael the alcoholic becomes Michael the Temperate Worker. Susan the promiscuous becomes Susan the Virtuous One. John the shyster becomes John the Protector of the Helpless. Joan the thief becomes Joan the Faithful Steward. Patrick the blasphemer of God becomes Patrick the Minister of the Gospel.
And we?
We become new creations in Christ.
The same message is played out right before our eyes everyday in our lives and those around us. We are born into sin, separated from God. For a period of our lives we live as walking zombies. Completely and totally dead – spiritually. And then one day, the hope of the world shines light into your heart. No, my dear child, you will not die, says the Father. You have been ransomed by Christ. Your treachery has been forgiven. You are entirely pardoned for every wrong thought and desire and deed. You will become new. This is what we as Christians understand as the central work of Christ for us. We are in the process of being unveiled. We were created to reflect God’s glory, born to bear his image, and he ransomed us to reflect that glory again. Every heart was given a mythic glory, and that glory is being restored. Remember the mission of Christ: “I have come to give you back your heart and set you free.” And make no mistake about it—it is a deep and stunning truth, one that will set you free and bring you joy. The Resurrection affirms the promise Christ made. For it was life he offered to give us: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). We are saved by his life when we find that we are able to live the way we’ve always known we should live. We are free to be what he meant when he meant us. You have a new life—the life of Christ. And you have a new heart. Do you know what this means? The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
The new has come!!!
By: Rev. Andrew Hudson
(various resources used, provided upon request)
