By Wells Armes - Class of 2024
A few weeks ago, we joined the Greenville Fellows for a presentation by Rich Rardin. He shared how many stories in the Bible are told through a three-step pattern: transaction, transition, and transformation.
A transaction is the initiating action which creates the potential for a transition. For example, the disciples’ transaction was when Jesus asked them to follow Him. Jesus said to the first disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
The next step for the disciples was their transition: the duration that the Lord uses for a purpose. The disciples’ transition was going from their prior occupations to following Christ; walking by faith into the unknown. Andrew, James, John, and Peter were fishermen and Matthew was a tax collector. Now, all of them along with the other seven disciples were part of Jesus’ ministry.
Finally, the disciples’ transformation happened during and after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus is who He was prophesied to be. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus came to die for the sins of the world. The ultimate purpose of transformation is to be more like Christ, to find our ultimate fulfillment in him, and to share and live out this good news.
This pattern of growth and faith can also be found in our own spiritual journeys.
For me, I have seen this in my experience as a Charlotte Fellow:
The Transaction: Committing to the Charlotte Fellows program when I had no idea what was ahead!
The Transition: Moving from Chapel Hill to Charlotte and the actual 9 month program (only 2 months left - crazy!). The Lord is using this program for a purpose. I am being taught God’s truth and surrounded by a grace-centered community.
The Transformation: God is preparing me for what is next. He is shaping me into the young man that He created me to be. God is working for my good and to build me up to do work for His kingdom.
When we follow and look for this pattern of transaction, transition, and transformation, we can more easily see that God is at work in our lives. Our walk with Christ starts with the willingness to engage in conversation with God as we invite him to lead the way. While we cannot know all the ways he wants to transform us or what it will take to get there, we do know that he is good.