“A Yearning For A Profound Transformation, Not Merely A Superficial Change.”
Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.
It’s been a while since my last post, and that’s because my journey as a writer has taken on a very different shape than I imagined. It’s become a life of purpose. Deeper and more astonishing than I ever imagined.
Like the shape of a funnel, my path became sharper and more focused on what truly matters. It began as a recovery testimony that made me discover writing. All of this led me to write about homelessness. A very under-discussed topic, and one about which we know little unless we’ve experienced it firsthand.
Then, I had the idea of writing a book about my life as a homeless addict. This led me to write testimonies of restoration that I now share with the truly people who need it. These testimonies are shared at a local church where they have a ministry that helps people who are going through the trauma of homelessness and all its misfortunes.
This post is a testimony I share, and I hope it helps you understand the crisis and what we’re trying to do to help.
Presentación.
My name is Carlos Jerónimo, and I am a member of the Lion of Judah congregation. I joined the church in 2016 and discovered it through the Miracle Mile ministry. I arrived here feeling broken and yearning for a positive transformation in my life. I desperately needed it.
And that’s the essence of my message:
“A yearning for a profound transformation, not merely a superficial change.”
My message is based on the verse from 2nd Corinthians chapter 5, verse 27.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, you are a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Do you know the distinction between a change and a transformation?
Believe it or not, they are two distinct concepts. A change can be subtle and often goes unnoticed, such as a change of clothes, hairstyle, or even the color of your hair. Most of these changes occur externally.
On the other hand, a transformation is a radical change that can surprise even the most skeptical individuals.
Many people in life don’t require a change, but rather a profound transformation. While change is fleeting, transformation delves deep into the heart, bringing about a lasting change from within.
There’s a passage in the Bible that illustrates how Jesus restored the sight of a blind man. This man, who had been blind since birth, believed Jesus could heal him. Jesus confronted him and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” And he replied, “I want to see.”
This wasn’t just a simple desire; it was a profound transformation. From a life of darkness to a life of sight, he fully regained his vision and saw the world around him with his own eyes.
Imagine the wonder and amazement that must have filled his heart! People saw him and couldn’t believe that this was the same man who had been blind from birth.
That, my beloved brothers and sisters, is a true transformation. But only Jesus could have accomplished this.
Now, let’s consider another example. Do you know what metamorphosis means? It’s the transformative process a worm undergoes as it cocoons itself to metamorphose into a beautiful butterfly. It undergoes a complete transformation, completely different from its previous form.
That, my dear brothers and sisters, is what God desires for us. He understands our current state and condition, and he knows the transformation we need—not just a temporary change, but a lasting transformation.
I have seen many change. Many who walked with me when I was homeless. But soon after, I saw them fall again, and fall even deeper. However, it is precisely for this very reason that they have refused to allow God to transform their lives and restore them to what He desires for us.
The Bible says in Ezekiel 33:11
Tell them, 'As I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but only in the wicked turning from his way and living. Turn, turn from your wicked ways. Why should you die, O house of Israel?'
And it also says in the Bible:
When the wicked turn from the wicked they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they will save their lives. (Ezekiel 18:27)
This might sound harsh, my beloved brothers and sisters, but these words are how God removes all evil and crooked ways from our lives. With the power of his word, he can conquer every addiction and every disease.
I recall my journey from Los Angeles to Boston, believing that relocating to a new city and environment would bring about significant changes in my life. However, all I achieved was a superficial transformation. The same twisted life I had endured in Los Angeles persisted or even worsened in Boston.
My wickedness led me to spend 6 years sleeping on the streets of Boston after losing everything—my family and the responsibility of taking care of myself. My wickedness was so severe that one day, I was declared dead behind a shelter in Cambridge, near the train tracks. My intoxication caused my vital signs to stop for a moment.
Paramedics resuscitated me using electric shocks. From that moment on, I have fought and persevered to undergo a profound transformation in my life. I been clean and sober for 9 years.
And who could provide me with such a transformation? Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
A few years after I emerged from homelessness and overcame addiction, I was walking down the sidewalk in Central Square, Boston when I noticed a familiar face in the crowd of passersby. The figure stared at me intently, as if he had recognized me from somewhere before. Suddenly, his face lit up with a wide smile as he finally recognized me. He exclaimed, “Wow, for a moment I didn’t recognize you, but I know who you are. I thought you had passed away.” I was torn between feeling happy and scared. I simply told him that I had changed my life. He responded with great conviction, “You haven’t changed; you’ve been transformed, my brother. It’s almost impossible to imagine how you were before and how you look now.”
These are the extraordinary acts that only God can perform on a human being.
Fast-forwarding to the present, being completely honest with myself, I compare my past life to the present and realize that I was never truly happy. I was deceived by the lies of the enemy, who told me that no one loved me, that I wasn’t worthy, and that this was my destiny. Neither alcohol nor drugs could bring me the happiness I experience now. It was all a lie from the devil himself. However, the enemy knows that if we repent and change our ways, God is always willing to receive us with open arms of mercy.
And now, returning to the main message: whoever turns from their evil ways will be transformed by God. He will transform them into a new creation, and all things—your desires, pleasures, and addictions—will be transformed into a new person.
Do you desire to receive the blessing that can open the doors of your heart and allow you to receive this new life? Come and draw near, and you will feel the restoring power of God. With prayer and intercession, your enemies of the soul will flee.
God desires to touch your life and transform you. He wants to give you wisdom to confront the reality of your present and give you a better future.
When you feel God’s voice in your heart, asking you what you want, simply answer your heart’s desire. I yearn for a new life, a chance to make amends and live righteously. And He will grant your heart’s desires, allowing you to witness the transformative power He will bring. For you will no longer be the blind man you once were, unable to perceive the love God has for you.
Discover my website at carlosjeronimo.com or visit my Quora space.