I sat enjoying a stunning dinner of lamb chops, mashed sweet potato, and blanched asparagus drenched in butter—the kind of meal that makes you wonder if your taste buds have just been baptized into new life. Meanwhile, I was also completing feedback from my professor, Dr. Townsend, at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in North Dakota, USA. Nothing like fine dining and academic rigor to remind you that both the stomach and the mind demand nourishment.
Afterward, I delved into my essay on spiritual formation, reflecting on how my course had reshaped me so far. That’s when the perturbing yet adventure-calling realization hit—I couldn’t settle into my current level of faith. Spiritual formation isn’t about arriving; it’s about becoming. I needed to keep pressing deeper into my relationship with Jesus, not getting comfortable with a plateau of faith that felt safe.
It reminded me of a prophetic dream my aunt once had about me as a child—a vision akin to Jacob’s ladder. In her dream, I was the one climbing—hand over hand, rung after rung—toward Jesus’ outstretched hand above. The image stuck with me because, let’s be honest, climbing is terrifying. Yet, across spiritual traditions, climbing a ladder represents faith in action:
1. Trusting the ladder will support you.
2. Letting go with one hand and foot to move to the next rung, relying on what remains to hold you.
3. Overcoming the fear of heights—because let’s be real, transformation is scary.
4. Believing that this whole ‘religious/spiritual’ thing isn’t a mirage but something worth reaching for.
As I considered my journey—church, Trinity, my studies, my life—I saw how I’d had to climb out of inadequacy, shed an inferiority complex, and outgrow imposter syndrome to reach new heights. Faith requires climbing. It also requires letting go.
My walk with Jesus has been fascinating because just when I start getting comfortable, the Holy Spirit reminds me of my aunt’s dream. I must keep trusting, keep climbing, keep stretching toward the next spurt of growth. And boy, do I need His hand more every single day.
Today’s excerpt from John 3, as highlighted in Enduring Word by David Guzik, emphasizes that renewal comes through transformation. Like caterpillars shedding cocoons, like fledglings stretching frail wings, like climbers reaching for the next rung—faith demands movement. It demands believing we are meant to become something we never imagined, because Jesus is not only the author of our faith—He is its finisher.
According to Enduring Word’s commentary on John 3, Jesus clearly stated that unless one is born again, they cannot enter or be part of the kingdom of God. Moral or religious reform is not enough; true transformation requires being born again. This is not something that individuals can accomplish on their own. If Jesus had said, “Unless you are washed, you cannot see the kingdom of God,” one might assume they could cleanse themselves through personal effort. However, just as no one can birth themselves, no one can regenerate themselves spiritually—this is a work of God.
The concept of rebirth and re-creation is present throughout the New Testament. William Barclay affirms, “All over the New Testament this idea of rebirth, re-creation occurs.” Various scriptures reinforce this truth. First Peter speaks of being born anew by God’s great mercy (1 Peter 1:3) and from an imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:22-23). James describes how God brings believers forth by the word of truth (James 1:18). Titus refers to the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5), while Romans explains that believers die with Jesus and rise anew (Romans 6:1-11). First Corinthians likens new believers to newborn babes in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-2), and Second Corinthians declares that in Jesus, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Galatians affirms this, stating that those in Christ are a new creation (Galatians 6:15), and Ephesians describes the new man as being created after God in righteousness (Ephesians 4:22-24). Hebrews further illustrates this concept by stating that at the beginning of our Christian walk, we are like children (Hebrews 5:12-14). These passages collectively emphasize that spiritual rebirth is an essential and foundational aspect of the Christian faith, entirely dependent on God’s transformative power.
But does scholarly study support the concept of transformation through renewal?
1. Psychology
In psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) exemplifies transformation through renewal by helping individuals reframe negative thought patterns, leading to behavioral changes and improved emotional well-being. As noted, “CBT focuses on changing unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviors, improving emotional regulation, and developing personal coping strategies that target solving current problems.“¹
2. Education
Transformative Learning Theory in education emphasizes that profound learning involves a fundamental change in perspective, enabling individuals to critically assess and revise their beliefs, leading to personal growth. “Transformative learning is the process of effecting change in a frame of reference.“²
3. Organizational Development
In organizational development, change management focuses on guiding individuals and organizations through transitions to achieve desired outcomes, involving renewing strategies, structures, and processes to enhance performance. “Change management is the process, tools, and techniques to manage the people side of change to achieve a required business outcome.“³
4. Sociology
Sociology examines socialization as the mechanism through which individuals internalize societal norms and values, allowing for the renewal of cultural practices and social structures. “Socialization is the process by which individuals learn and adopt the values and norms of their culture.“⁴
5. Philosophy
The dialectical method in philosophy, particularly Hegelian dialectics, posits that progress arises from the resolution of contradictions, leading to the renewal of ideas and the evolution of thought. “The dialectical method involves the notion that movement, or process, or progress is the result of the conflict of opposites.“⁵
6. Medicine & Rehabilitation
Neuroplasticity in medicine refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, underlying recovery from injuries and adaptation to new situations. “Neuroplasticity is the ability of the nervous system to respond to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, function, and connections.“⁶
7. Physics
In physics, the second law of thermodynamics states that entropy, or disorder, in an isolated system tends to increase over time; however, systems can achieve renewal and maintain order through the input of energy, leading to transformation. “The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of an isolated system always increases over time.“⁷
8. Chemistry
Catalysis in chemistry involves the acceleration of chemical reactions by catalysts, which facilitate the transformation of reactants into products without being consumed, exemplifying how substances undergo renewal at the molecular level. “Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without themselves undergoing any permanent chemical change.“⁸
9. Mathematics
The Darboux Transformation in mathematics is a method used to generate new solutions from known ones, particularly in the context of differential equations, illustrating transformation through the renewal of mathematical functions. “The Darboux transformation is a method to obtain new solutions of a linear partial differential equation from known ones.“⁹
10. Computer Science & Coding
In software development, refactoring involves restructuring existing code to improve its design and efficiency without altering its external behavior, leading to the renewal of software systems and enhancing their maintainability. “Refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code without changing its external behavior.“¹⁰
11. Biology
Adaptation in biology refers to the process by which organisms become better suited to their environment through genetic changes, enabling species to survive and thrive under changing conditions. “Adaptation is the process by which a species becomes fitted to its environment; it is the result of natural selection acting upon heritable variation.“¹¹
12. Geology
James Hutton’s theory of uniformitarianism in geology posits that the Earth’s features result from continuous and uniform processes, emphasizing the gradual transformation and renewal of the planet’s surface. “The present is the key to the past.“¹²
13. Anthropology
Cultural evolution in anthropology examines how cultures transform over time through the adoption of new practices and ideas, leading to the development and diversification of human societies. “Cultural evolution is the change of culture over time.“¹³
14. Archaeology
The Three-Age System in archaeology classifies prehistoric societies into the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages, reflecting technological transformations and illustrating how human civilizations renew themselves through advancements in tool-making. “The Three-Age System is the periodization of history into three consecutive time periods: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age.“¹⁴
15. Systems Theory
Complex adaptive systems theory explores how systems, such as ecosystems or economies, undergo transformation through adaptation and self-organization, allowing them to maintain functionality in changing environments. “A complex adaptive system is a system that is able to adapt in and evolve with a changing environment.“¹⁵
These examples across diverse fields underscore the principle that transformation is often achieved through processes of renewal.
Conclusion: Reaching for the Unseen
Transformation is never a passive process—it is an intentional, often uncomfortable journey of renewal. Whether it is the climber reaching for the next rung, the butterfly pressing through the cocoon, or the fledgling testing its wings for the first time, each movement requires trust in something beyond itself. Faith demands that same trust.
Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 was not just a theological discourse; it was an invitation to become something beyond human limitation. The call to be born again is not about self-improvement or moral refinement—it is about supernatural transformation. Nicodemus struggled with the idea because, like many of us, he was accustomed to what was tangible, measurable, and explainable. But Jesus spoke of a renewal that cannot be achieved through human effort—a rebirth that only God can bring.
The Holy Spirit is always calling us higher, deeper, further—beyond the comforts of our current understanding. To follow Jesus is to keep moving toward Him. It is to trust the next step, to release what no longer serves, and to believe that He is leading us into something we never imagined we could become.
Interestingly, academia affirms this very concept of transformation through renewal. Across multiple disciplines—psychology, neuroscience, education, sociology, biology, and even physics—scholars recognize that true change does not happen in isolation or through mere self-determination. From neuroplasticity proving the brain must be rewired through new experiences, to physics showing entropy requires external energy to restore order, to transformative learning theory revealing that profound change requires exposure to new truths—the academic world unknowingly echoes what Jesus declared to Nicodemus. True renewal requires a force beyond oneself.
And that is where we must stand today: on the threshold of transformation.
So, what rung are you on?
Where is Jesus calling you to let go and reach for the next level?
And will you trust that His hand is already there, waiting for you?
Because faith climbs. Faith reaches. And faith becomes.
Prayer: The Climb of Faith
Jesus, I reach for You. In every moment of doubt, in every season of stretching, in every step that feels too high for me to climb—remind me that You are there, hand outstretched, calling me higher.
Give me the courage to let go of what I cling to, the faith to trust the next rung, and the strength to climb when my arms grow weary. Shape me through transformation, renew me in Your presence, and remind me that the journey is not about how high I can go, but about how close I can draw to You.
I am willing, Lord Jesus, help me to keep climbing.
Amen.
References
1. Beck, Judith S. Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press, 2011.
2. Mezirow, Jack. “Transformative Learning: Theory to Practice.” New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, no. 74 (1997): 5–12.
3. Hiatt, Jeff. ADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government, and Our Community. Loveland, CO: Prosci Learning Center Publications, 2006.
4. Grusec, Joan E., and Paul D. Hastings, eds. Handbook of Socialization: Theory and Research. New York: Guilford Press, 2007.
5. Singer, Peter. Hegel: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
6. Zilles, Karl, and Katrin Amunts. “Centenary of Brodmann’s Map: Conception and Fate.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, no. 2 (2010): 139–45.
7. Atkins, Peter, and Julio de Paula. Physical Chemistry. 10th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
8. Smith, Michael B., and Jerry March. March’s Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure. 7th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2013.
9. Matveev, Vladimir B. Darboux Transformations and Solitons. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1991.
10. Fowler, Martin. Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 1999.
11. Futuyma, Douglas J. Evolution. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, 2013.
12. Gould, Stephen Jay. Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle: Myth and Metaphor in the Discovery of Geological Time. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987.
13. Boyd, Robert, and Peter J. Richerson. Culture and the Evolutionary Process. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985.
14. Trigger, Bruce G. A History of Archaeological Thought. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
15. Holland, John H. Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1995.
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