Transforming Power
Augustine of Hippo, often called Saint Augustine, wasn’t always a saint. For years he lived on the dark side of lustful carnality. By the grace of God he was saved in the late summer of 387 A.D. The dramatic change in his life illustrates the fact that conversion involves moral transformation. He believed that only the power Jesus offers could break the bonds of his moral failure. Becoming reliant on that power motivated his life and influenced his writing.
His conversion was followed by a period of solitude and inner spiritual training like that of Paul after his salvation.
The first city in the new world bears his name St. Augustine, Florida. Austin, Texas is also named for Him. Not only are cities named for him, but our entire nation is indebted to him.
His brilliant mind was drawn by reading Cicero, who was not a Christian. Nevertheless, Cicero’s writing motivated him to seek after things that were true, honorable and just. In that search he was attracted to the Scripture.
As an aside, his writing influenced John Calvin, who directly influenced the formation of our Constitution and government. Most of the Founding Fathers were well schooled in the writing of Calvin and Augustine.
Augustine’s philosophy was based on his belief that you must “… not seek to understand in order to believe, but that you must believe that you may understand.”
From Augustine, we learn that conversion and discipleship are like a lock and key or a bow and arrow, they are meant to work together. We learn that conversion, far from being the end of the journey, only sets us on our spiritual journey that goes from trial unto trial, and faith unto faith. It is a growth experience. Don’t give up on yourself, neither be overly lenient on yourself.
He asserted that evil is not a created substance in itself, but a corruption of good. Basically that means evil is really a good thing used in the wrong way. It is the perversion of good.
Augustine is exhibit “A” of the Lord lifting a person from the basement floor of depravity to the top floor, the penthouse, of spiritual productivity. He became an example of the transforming power of the Lord and reason why not to give up on anyone no matter what.
That same transforming and energizing influence is applicable to “whosoever.” It can enable your growth if you are spiritually stagnant as a result of arrested spiritual growth. Let the example of Augustine be a motivating and enabling influence in your life. Start today on the journey of growth. We must all realize we are not what we can be. Therefore, “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (II Peter 3: 18). Grow on!