Known by Many as "Momma Pearl"
Beyond Reform
By Pearl Conaway
In my reading I came across the word "reform" repeatedly. I looked the word up and found that it meant "to reshape or make better".
This is the goal of our penal system and the many secular organizations who address the needs of all ages in our society.
The problem is that reform only works to change behavior, without recognizing the real nee
More is needed than just a new coat of paint!
Thinking about this I pictured in my mind an old car that had been refurbished.
The dents were smoothed and a new coat of paint added. Then it was polished and shined until it glistened. The only problem was the motor had never been touched. Turning the key brought no response. You could sit in the vehicle all day and go nowhere.
A man can put on a new coat, adopt a new set of rules and even speak what he feels is acceptable. But if the old hurts, anger, fears, resentments and confusion remain inside, he is in danger of yielding to one of these when pressure mounts.
Complete "reform" comes only from God
There is some measure of success with reform but God gets to the root of the matter, creating a new creature with a new heart and motivations.
Then He sends His Spirit to give power to overcome. If the old man does try to resurface, we can ask and he will give strength to overcome.
Paul in writing to the Corinthians said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all thing are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
God is on our side!
If we fail along the way, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Someone told me they had been praying for me and I appreciated it very much.
We are exhorted to pray for one another. The Word tells us that Christ and the Spirit are interceding for you and I.
God is on our side.
One more illustration. I read of a man who challenged an evangelist after a service, saying that he had little confidence in the gospel because there was so much evil in the world. He owned a company that manufactured soap.
Nearby a little boy was playing in a mud puddle. The evangelist pointed at the boy and said, it appears your soap is not working." The man snorted, saying it would do no good unless it was used. The evangelist said, "Exactly!"
I personally believe, that God in his infinite love and wisdom provided everything we need for both our physical and spiritual well being. He gave us his awesome creation for our sustenance and health, then made provision and hope for our eternal destiny . Click on the link if you would like to know more.
