The Encourager
“The Pressure to Conform”
The Pressure to Conform
by Jeff Curtis
A science teacher gave a simple illustration in class. They took an empty, flat-sided, one gallon metal can. Then took the lid off the can, put a little water in it, and placed it over an open fire. Soon the water was boiling. Using gloves, the teacher put the lid back on, screwed it down tight, and removed the can from the fire. For a few minutes nothing happened. Then suddenly – as though crushed by a giant, invisible hand – the sides of the can collapsed inward. Impressive.
The teacher explained that heating the can expand the air and forced some of it from the can. As a result, when the sealed can cooled, the air pressure inside the can was less than the pressure outside the can. That’s why the outside pressure caused the sides of the can to collapse. Most of are not aware of the air pressure, but it’s there. At sea level, the pressure is almost fifteen pounds per square inch. (University of Illinois, “Atmospheric Pressure”, September 19, 2013). Our bodies don’t collapse because the pressure inside is the same as the pressure outside.
As we study passages like Romans 12:2, we think of this lesson about pressure. Many people are not aware of the pressure in the world to conform to its lifestyle. They yield to that pressure because they have nothing within to enable them to withstand it. Paul, in effect, said that the way to keep pressure from the world from “squeezing us into it mold” is to offset that pressure with a renewed mind.
What can we do (with God’s help) to renew our minds? Probably, the most important action we can take is to fill our minds with that which lifts us up instead of that which drags us down. If our minds are constantly exposed to immoral, irreverent, and self-centered influences of the world, it will be almost impossible to renew our minds. Paul also wrote, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
We need to fill our minds with the Word of God; this we do through Bible reading and study. Our thoughts should be focused on God; we can achieve this focus through meditation and prayer, and considering the wonderful world God has made (Romans 1:20). We need to associate with people who have a spiritual emphasis in their lives; this we do through Christian fellowship. Above all, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and work to be like Him. “But we all, …beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2Cor. 3:18). In this way, the inner man will be “renewed day by day” (2Cor. 4:16). We will be transformed both inside and outside (the body) and inside (the mind).
Are you living the transformed life? Transformation has to do with change, and change is not easy. It is difficult to get out of the deep, deep ruts of lifelong behavior – but we can change with the help of God. Relying on Him, we can meet Paul’s challenge.
The transformation begins as you are baptized as a penitent believer and rise to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The change continues as you turn your mind from “the things of the flesh” and focus on “the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).
