Transformed!

Hearing about all the international presidents, past and present, as well as all the celebrities who are flying into our country to come and attend either the memorial service of burial service of our former State President, Mr Nelson Mandela, is truly touching and remarkable. They stand as a testament to the impact this one man has made on our planet earth.

When we ask ourselves what it took to achieve this, one word stand out: Transformation!

How different the result would have been if Mandela had held onto the bitterness, hatred and anger that he surely must have felt at some time during his many years of incarceration at Robin Island. I know for sure that he would have had to dig deep, very deep, to find it in his heart to forgive those who had treated him unjustly.

He did however succeed and because of that, we as South Africans enjoy the full freedom to live out our lives as we choose, not bound by any laws that could limit any good action.

Jesus lived a life that was honourable to God in every way and yet he died as a criminal. Jesus could easily have chosen the path of hatred and anger, but He chose to submit His will to the will of His Father and submitted Himself to death. He rose on the third day as a triumphant, victorious King and the transformation He underwent paved the path for our eternal victory over death. Though our bodies wilt, our spirits are strong and we will live in the fullness of God's victory over death.

Oh death, where is your sting, for our spirits are renewed in Christ and we will reign with Him, forevermore!