“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
In 1948, Columbia Records released the first LP or long play vinyl record. Many people grew up listening to their favourite music on various sizes of records known as 78’s, 45’s and 33’s, though technically these numbers referred not to the size but to the speed at which they needed to be played. Cassette tapes, 8-track tapes, CD’s, and downloadable digital audio files, in order, have all sought to make the vinyl record obsolete, however, the vinyl record is making a comeback.
In the verse above, the believer is called to not be conformed to this world. In order to create a vinyl record, 60 tons of pressure is applied to heated vinyl to conform it to the silver master record. The world is constantly seeking to squeeze the believer into the pattern of the world. Pressure is applied day after day upon our hearts and minds by Satan, by the world, and even by our own flesh. “Live only for today. Be true to yourself. You only live once. Concern yourself with number one!” And it is so, so easy to slowly, but gradually become conformed to the messages that we are bombarded with.
We must remember that we are in a battle, and it is a battle for our hearts and minds. The apostle Paul calls on us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds! Our thinking must be shaped by Scripture, and not shaped by the thinking of the world. But being transformed in our minds is not thinking more and more about Christian things – it is thinking more and more about everything in a Christian way! It is possible to be distracted even in a worship service and think worldly thoughts, while it is likewise possible to think Christianly of the most mundane things such as wondering, as you fill up your car with gas, do these modern conveniences still serve us, or have we become enslaved to them? May our hearts and minds increasingly be transformed as we are saturated with Scripture, in order that we may discern what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.