Can God really change lives?

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant a willing spirit to sustain me. Then will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." [Ps 51:11-13]

I confess that until recently, this doubt was growing my heart: Can God really change lives? Not only was it my struggle, but it was the struggle of Francis Schaeffer in that dark period of doubt just before 1953. It may be that there are times when God gives up on a people, or takes his Holy Spirit away from those who have known him but not obeyed him; there were indeed times when Jesus "could not do any miracles." [Mark 6:5] The point isn't that God had no power, but that men had no faith.

So in our ministries, if no lives are being changed, no sinners turning back to God, it is clearly not God's failure, but ours. What does the Psalm say?

"THEN I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you."

I cannot teach transgressors to repent until "then". What is that moment? It is clearly when God's Holy Spirit has been poured out on me, when the JOY of God's salvation has been restored to me, and when I have been granted a willing spirit to obey God's will.

Without the Holy Spirit, how can any miracle be done in the body, mind or soul of a man? Without God's own joy in my heart, why should anyone desire to listen to me, however grave or persuasive the truth I speak? Without a willing spirit to obey God, what will move me to evangelism? Why would I spend time arguing and persuading anyone to turn from sin or believe in Jesus?

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." [John 15:5]

The hard part, then, is to remain in Jesus, not produce fruit. Fruit is borne naturally in the Christian who is filled with the life of Jesus, the joy of the Lord, and the Spirit.

There is an answer to the question, Can God really change lives? He can and does, but not because we "do more" or "work hard" or sacrifice much. God works to change lives through us. But it is God who does this work. He "draws all men unto himself" but only "when he is lifted up." [John 12:32]

Sadly, many Christian ministers of our day are being lifted up and highly exalted, and seem to want this. I know because I myself envy other popular and fruitful shepherds. I have secretly wanted to see their downfall, coveted their spiritual gifts and position, and made it my hope that I would soon be exalted above them all. To this covetousness I must "be crucified with Christ", even Jesus who was despised and rejected. He did not become rich. God forbid that I should enjoy more popularity and success than your Son. Only renew your Spirit, your joy, and a willing spirit within me, to obey and follow Jesus, to exalt Him alone, and become less that he may be known among the nations.