A Wonderful Change of Heart

In another account, a sick friend of General Willcox became awakened to his need of God. He recovered and received Christ as his Savior. One day he came to the store where Willcox was working, took him by the hand, and greeted him as a fellow Christian. Willcox commented, “What a change indeed! While a man of the world, proud, profane, and haughty; when a man of Christ, meek, condescending, considerate, and kind!” The man of whom Willcox spoke was Major Robert Forsyth, paymaster in the US Army.

General Willcox had the kind of testimony that impacted others’ lives. Undoubtedly, he had witnessed to his friend, Major Forsyth, and showed him the way of salvation. After Forsyth turned to Christ, he made a point to go to Willcox and share his experience. Willcox saw a definite change in Forsythe. His demeanor and attitude were in stark contrast to his former proud, profane, and haughty nature. Now he was meek, considerate, and kind.

When Christ enters the heart, the sinner is changed from the inside out. He receives a new nature, and his life is transformed. Others can witness the change in his life.

Once a man had a pig that he was fattening and grooming to win a blue ribbon at the county fair. The man took the pig out of his favorite mud pond and washed him clean. He put perfume on him and a collar around his neck. He put him in a clean pen and spread sawdust beneath him. The pig was judged and, to the farmer’s surprise, won the blue ribbon at the county fair. When the farmer took the pig home, he figured the pig would enjoy his new lifestyle. When the farmer released the pig into the barnyard, the pig went straight to his old mud pond. Everything had been changed on the outside, but the pig was still a pig at heart. His nature had not changed, only his circumstances.

When Jesus saves a sinner, He gives him a new nature. The new nature within changes one from the inside out. That is why Paul admonished us in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” This verse has often been misunderstood. Some have tried to make this verse say that our good works save us. If we do not continue to obey God, we may lose our salvation. This interpretation could not be further from the truth. Paul is admonishing believers to show forth their salvation through their obedience to God.

The mark of a true Christian is that he has a desire to serve and obey God. When the demoniac was saved, Scripture says that his first impulse was his desire to be with Jesus. He wanted to follow Jesus and obey God.

If there is any measure by which we can judge the salvation of another, it would be found in the word obedience. A born-again believer should have an immediate desire to obey and follow Christ. As we follow Him, He reveals things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him. Then we forsake them through His grace as we are continually renewed. The theological term is called “progressive sanctification.” We are saved, but we are being saved. That is, we are constantly casting off that which is not pleasing to Christ as we become more like Him. We will never reach sinless perfection until we get to heaven, but we should strive to please Christ as we draw closer to Him.

Are you walking in obedience today?