Exhortation: Following Jesus in an Age of Deception

The following is a transcription of the exhortation given by Timothy Dragan at the Romanian Youth Festival 2025 in Melbourne. The Festival is a Baptist conference which unites all Evangelical Romanians youths from all across Australia in worship and edification.

Good morning to all! I hope you are feeling as blessed as I have been thus far.

I am grateful to be here today. I have been tasked with the seemingly impossible challenge of delivering a message within five minutes. Thus, we shall pray for divine intervention to ensure that I adhere to this time constraint.

What a blessed time we have experienced thus far! The theme has focused on the imperative of following Jesus amidst an age characterized by deception. Our brother Andrew provided an excellent exposition last night regarding the implications of living in such a world. He articulated the reality that we inhabit a deceived and depraved environment.

[It appears that the microphones are not cooperating with me today; we shall see how this unfolds.]

This theme is crucial, as it aligns with the logic that our brother has been elucidating. Today, I will discuss the concept of following Jesus. It is essential to grasp the good news, but first, we must comprehend the bad news. This principle is evident in the writings of Paul, particularly in the book of Romans. My exhortation today will be concise, yet impactful, as I draw a contrast between Romans 1 and Romans 12.

Read Romans 1:18ff and 12:1-2.

In Romans 1, Paul elucidates the tragedy of humanity's fall. We exchanged the truth of God for a lie, resulting in our deformation. Observe the pattern:

• Our bodies were dishonoured (v. 24).

• Our worship became idolatrous, as we served created things rather than the Creator (v. 25).

• Our minds began to approve what is evil (v. 28).

  
  

The principle derived from Romans 1 is clear: we become like what we worship. False worship inevitably leads to false living.

Conversely, in Romans 12, Paul presents the gospel's transformative power. He deliberately employs similar themes through literary connections in this chapter:

• Instead of dishonouring our bodies, we are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God (12:1).

• Rather than engaging in idolatrous worship, we are to offer reasonable spiritual worship that pleases God (12:1).

• Instead of approving evil, as noted in chapter 1, our renewed minds are now equipped to approve and discern what is good and perfect (12:2).

  
  

Do you perceive the deliberate contrast? Romans 1 illustrates the consequences of worshipping false entities—what occurs when worship is misdirected. In contrast, Romans 12 depicts the outcome of worshipping that which is worthy of our adoration. This is what transpires when our worship is restored through the gospel.

At the heart of this message lies a profound truth: true worship necessitates a deep understanding of the object of our worship.

To genuinely worship God, we must know Him. As we deepen our knowledge of God, He renews our minds. This renewal transforms us into the image of Christ, enabling us to discern His will amidst a world rife with deception. We navigate through the fog of lies, arriving at an understanding of what is true, good, and beautiful.

Paul reinforces this notion in his epistles:

• Romans 8:29 — We are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.

• Colossians 3:10 — We are being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 — As we behold the glory of Christ, we are transformed into His image, from one degree of glory to another.

  
  

This encapsulates the ultimate goal of salvation: worship. As the book of Hebrews reminds us, worship not only represents the culmination of our salvation but also serves as the means through which we persevere in faith. In worship, we draw near to God, and therein lies our preservation by Him.

Let us examine the grammar of Romans 12:2 with care:

“Do not be conformed to this world.” This phrase is presented in the passive voice, indicating that the world shapes us unbeknownst to us. We allow the world to mold us, becoming conformed to it merely by existing within it. Many of us, upon becoming Christians, began to recognize habits that we had previously been unaware were erroneous.

However, in verse two, Paul instructs us, “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” This is often interpreted in an active sense—people assert that we should engage in the renewal process by reading the Word of God, which is indeed a commendable practice. Yet, Paul employs the passive voice here as well. This renewal is not something we accomplish; rather, it is a work that God performs within us, through His Spirit and the gospel of Christ.

If God is the one who renews our minds, how then do we participate in this process? We engage, as Paul articulates in verse one, by offering ourselves to God as living sacrifices. When we worship God with our lives, the gospel permeates our being. Our minds are renewed, and wisdom flourishes.

Proverbs states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” As we can observe, the object of our knowledge and worship ultimately shapes our identity. If we aspire to attain wisdom in an age of deception, we must worship God with reverence, thereby walking in wisdom.

Herein lies the stark contrast:

If we choose to worship the world or the lies propagated by Satan, the prince of this world, we will be deformed into their image—blind, foolish, and deceived. As our brother Andrew articulated yesterday, we are left doomed.

Conversely, if we worship Christ, we will be transformed into His likeness—renewed, wise, discerning, and radiant with His glory.

Therefore, in an age characterized by deception, the path to following Jesus is through worshipping Him with our entire being—our bodies, minds, and hearts. For whatever we choose to worship, we will inevitably resemble. If we worship Christ, we will gain clarity regarding the true, the good, and the beautiful.

In this age of deception, the pertinent question is not “Will you worship?” but rather “Whom will you worship?”

This constitutes my exhortation: as Paul implores, ensure that you worship God; in doing so, you will become like Him, gaining discernment in a world fraught with lies and deception.

May God assist us all in this endeavor.

Amen.