- Converting
Psalm 19.7
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
Conversion of the soul is an unconditional promise: that the Lord will convert the soul, but the implied condition is that we must read, hear, learn, or in some way receive the Law of the Lord. The Lord promises to use the Word of God to convert the soul.
The law of the Lord is the Torah, or the Book of Moses, the first five books of the Hebrew Old Testament. Torah means “Instruction” and Torah then means it includes the entire instruction from God about life: where it comes from, what it is, what it means, where it is going, and how to live a good life. It is considered the manufacturer’s manual for the proper operation of the universe. The “Law of the Lord” can be narrowed to one command: “Love God and love neighbor.” It can also be widened to include the entire revelation of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament. The “Law” of the Lord also includes the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Law = Word.
This Word of God is perfect, complete, whole, without error, and effective in purpose. The Word will accomplish that for which it was sent: Isaiah 55:11: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” In that sense the Word is perfect: it will accomplish conversion.
Converting the soul means to turn the soul around completely from going in the wrong direction to going in the right direction. Conversion, a complete turning around of life’s direction, happens when one comes to a saving faith in Jesus Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit though the Gospel. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 11:17). Faith converts a person from darkness to light, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, from hell to heaven. That faith comes through the Word, more precisely, it is the Holy Spirit creating faith in the soul though the hearing of the Gospel. This makes him a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.
This total turn around conversion may happen in a moment or over time from our own experience of it. But one time conversion is not enough to maintain the overcoming Christian life on a daily basis. We may have been transformed once, but we all need continual transforming and restoring. The word “convert” can also mean “restore, revive, or refresh.” This is our need and this is God’s promise. “He restoreth my soul.” (Psalm 23: 3). Life, surrounded by sin, death, and devil has a way of draining life, sapping energy, putting things in disarray, and messing things up. We need the restorative powers of the Word of God on a regular basis, not just to be fed, but also to be converted and restored.
Life cannot be fully lived without this enduring inner good; and God gives it freely. If you like your life the way it is, don’t seriously read your Bible because the results for your life will be serious.