Transformation

2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB: But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

There’s a reason I dedicate a large part of my time to my faith tradition, and it’s not because I want to “go to heaven.” Oh sure, an eternity without suffering or decay is appealing. But that’s a given; Christ already died to give me life, and I’m already forgiven.  More time reading the scriptures or serving others isn’t going to change that. 

The time I dedicate is solely for one purpose: transformation. I want to change. I long to display qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and more. This verse discusses transformation. The Greek word used is metamorphoo’ (from which we get our word metamorphosis). If you look closely at the Greek word, an important truth emerges. Morphoo’ means to shape or form—think of our word morph. But what about meta? The prefix meta carries the sense of change that follows association. Some word studies describe metamorphoo’ as ‘transformed after being with,’ suggesting that true transformation happens through relational exposure.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. What we give our attention to shapes us. You become what you consume. The poet William Blake, in Milton (1804), said it well: “he became what he beheld.”  

Think of all the things we dedicate our time, metaphorically our gaze, to. Those distractions may help pass the time, but remember, time spent with something or someone changes us (metamorphosis), for better or worse.  I depicted some of these in my art piece. 

What I appreciate about this verse is the imagery Paul uses of a mirror. Christ in all His glory doesn’t tangibly sit here next to me; it would probably be too overwhelming for me. Scripture, prayer, and worship are not the source of transformation, but they are the mirrors through which the Spirit reflects Christ into me. Those things are the means by which I place myself before Christ, where the Spirit transforms me to look like Him.

There’s one last piece to this transformation, which Paul symbolically calls the veil. In verse 14, he explains what the veil represents by stating, “But their minds were closed.” When I study scripture and stubbornly seek justification for bad behavior, I will not be transformed because my will acts as a veil, blocking change. 

And so, intention and attention ultimately lead to transformation. Notice, too, that Paul’s wording is “are being transformed.” Transformation doesn’t happen all at once; it unfolds gradually, from glory to glory, as exposure to Christ reshapes me over time. My work to be transformed into the likeness of Christ will be a lifelong journey, but it’s already been so worth it!