Matters of Faith: A Glorious New Beginning

By Rev. J. Loren Russell

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NKJV

This Father’s Day, I want to challenge not just fathers, but every man to be resurrected from the dead and into a new life and a new way of living. Then, I challenge you to make a commitment to become the man God created you to be. The scripture above is the most appropriate text to use to speak to the subject of a glorious new beginning.

Paul anticipates someone asking, “How are the dead raised up?” (v. 35).  He explains the germination process where a seed dies in its present form to transform into a new and beautiful body. A similar transformation occurs in us, except Christ raises our bodies to live forever (v. 22). We were born in corruption yet will be raised incorruptible. We were planted in dishonor yet will be raised in honor. We were sown in weakness yet will be raised in power. We were born with natural bodies but will be raised with spiritual bodies.  

Today, I want to look at the transformation that occurs before the supernatural or the spiritual body appears. We are not only challenged to be transformed for our eternal life, we are to be transformed for our present reality also. The moment a man decides to be the person God created him to be, the transformation begins. His thoughts change. His actions change. Wherever he is in life, whatever he does for a living, he is being transformed into the image and likeness of God Himself. It does not matter what he did, who he was or where he’ve been, he begins to die to the same way the seed dies to its present condition. A new and beautiful beginning takes shape. He begins taking on godly attributes and characteristics, goodness, integrity, truthfulness, wisdom, holiness, righteousness, and love.

While we are uplifting fathers and celebrating the 155^th anniversary of Juneteenth, we are challenged with defeating a worldwide pandemic and confronting systemic racism. The only permanent solution is spiritual transformation that starts right here and right now! Remember, when you are transformed, you are endowed with the attributes of God. That means, you will do whatever is necessary to make this world a better place, whether you are from the oppressed or the privileged group. We are engaged in a war not just for the physical lives and livelihood of our brothers and sisters, we are in a war for their eternal souls. When men take on the challenge of being transformed, when men commit to doing right, they will enter into a glorious new beginning.

Be Blessed!

Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book. eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.