"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," said Paul to the Romans.
In Genesis, thirty second chapter, the renewing and transforming of Jacob are described. He "was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." In his life, full of eventful, even violent incidents wherein human will and personal desire had played so great a part, Jacob had sought escape and had known repentance, but he had not found transformation. He had gone from one often dangerous and little creditable vicissitude to another, and though at times disturbed and conscience-stricken, had emerged from them without gleaning the lessons of spiritual regeneration which would have prevented their recurrence. But at Peniel his nature was not only regenerated; it was reborn. That which had been a passing aspiration after goodness was transformed into understanding and demonstration. Vision was no longer illusive and afar off; it was practical and complete. He learned that there was something he valued more than human possessorship, won often at the expense of another; something that meant more to him than safe emergence from a dangerous situation. He learned the nature of God and of man. In finding himself, he was enabled also to behold his brother. This scene of Jacob's transformation, when, as the Bible declares, he had "power with God and with men," is described by Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Here it is made clear that the reason Jacob prevailed was that in this conflict between truth and error he sought not escape but spiritual understanding.
There comes in some way to each one a like decision. The conflict may seem formidable and the night dark, but the individual has to make his choice between the continuation of a concept of himself which hitherto, however often he may have repented of it, he would seem to have made no genuine effort to throw off, and the replacing of it with that which will bring blessings incalculable. He has to choose between submitting to or wrestling with and prevailing over error. The old way has been the way of compromise and frequent submission to evil through desire or fear. The new way is as yet untried, but already there are glimpses enough to bring courage and confidence; already for him who lifts his head the light has begun to break.
