Old Things Are Passed Away

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

You aren’t a child of God if your lifestyle and attributes have not changed… Paul (the writer of this letter to the church of Corinth) once recognized himself as the chief sinner; however, after His encounter with the Lord on the Damascus road his outlook on life changed... This same thing can be said for Nicodemus after speaking with Jesus in the night; the bottom line being that when we become a member of the body of Christ we are a “new creature”, your life cannot be the same. I recall several stories that people have told me regarding different things that they experienced in their respective lives. Near death experiences, death defying stunts that completely altered their way of thinking. The same is to be said about encounters with the Lord. The things your eyes are opened to defy the odds, they defeat the stronghold of death and temptation and they expose you to God’s sovereign power and the might He possess to pull you out of near death experiences… Paul was headed to hell if it where not for the grace and mercy of God… When you really come to understand that Jesus loves you, when you really come to understand and know that God thought enough of His creation to save you, your life cannot be the same. When I hear about kind words that have been spoken about me they impact my life. When I hear about the potential that someone sees in me that means more than you can imagine. These are the same things that God says and thinks about you. This is why He was willing to allow His son to lay down His life for you… When you realize that you were created in God’s image, you were made in perfection and clothed in humility; your life can no longer be subject to people’s perspectives or thoughts…. This is why Paul goes on to say “old things are passed away…” Your mindset changes; what was important before is a (n) afterthought now and you soon realize that beauty is more than skin deep… After encountering Jesus, Paul realized how ugly and dark His life was… It isn’t until you see the beauty of God and the wonders of His desires that you realize how misguided your way of thinking is without Him… It isn’t until you feel His unconditional love and warmth that you realize that this is a love that exceeds what any man or woman can give you… Knowing that “all things become new” tells me that there should be evidence of God in your life through the actions and steps you take. Your directive should be altered, your direction should be rerouted and your focus should be on things eternal and not seen… This is why Paul also says that we are called to “walk by faith and not by sight…” Your old way of thinking was focused on the physical, you approached life from a visible state; however, in Christ you see things on earth but recognize that they can be altered and overcome with your attention being eternal. In Christ you indeed are a new creature and I should see it with the new walk that you demonstrate… Things that could annoy you or upset you should be discarded and brushed off in Christ. People who speak unkind words will be prayed for and over in Christ. You indeed will show forth proof of Christ indwelling Spirit and a transformation will be apparent in your life… Through Jesus death on the cross, we have been enabled to experience eternal life… All sin was bore on the cross, all power is now in His hands, and He has given us that same power to overcome sin, and eternal damnation if we believe in Him and His bloodshed… Thanks be to God our father forever, if you can’t say amen to things below, you may still be in the world instead of being in Christ…

Are you in Christ Jesus? You should have a new walk.  Are you in Christ Jesus? You should have a new talk. Are you in Christ Jesus? There should be a beat of a different drum. Old things are passed away, your slate is clean; you have a fresh start, you’re a new creature!

The bible declares that we are called as children of God to do the following:

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN!

BE BLESSED!!!