You’re a New Creation. Let Go of the Old.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB)
I think of this verse when I look at this week’s image. I took the picture because I thought it was odd that the business owner chose to put up a new flagpole holder while leaving the old one in place.
Why would they do that?
You’re a New Creation. Let Go of the Old. #hope #joy #writingcommunity Click To TweetMaybe they were in a rush and didn’t have time to take the other one down. Could be they knew they would have to repaint over the old location and decided it was too much trouble. I guess it could have been that they liked the looks of the old holder.
My best guess was that they wanted to be able to go back and forth between the old and new holder. They might even want to use them both at once.
That’s a problem if you and I do that after becoming a Christian.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that when we become a Christian, the old things pass away. The old things represent our lives prior to being “in Christ.” You know, pride, desire to live a sinful life, selfishness, putting anything ahead of Jesus. We used to think that way and do those things. For some of us, living a sinful life, apart from God, didn’t bother us at all.
Then God drew us to Himself and offered His Son’s sacrifice so that we might be in a right relationship with Him. In that offering and our acceptance, He created a new being. You remember what it was like as a brand-new Christ follower, don’t you? You looked at life differently. For some, describing the difference is difficult until you mature as a Christian, but you are different.
No longer do you desire to live as you did before. It doesn’t feel right. You look at the world differently. The things of God drive your actions, not selfish desires. Pride, selfishness, hate, and putting Jesus behind other priorities has no appeal. That is, if you have truly decided to allow Him to be Lord of your life.
The old has passed away. The new has come.
It’s all great unless we allow our old life to reside in the background, close enough so that we can go back to it when we want. You know that feeling, too. Something of the former life pops up and beckons you. It doesn’t feel right, and you really don’t want it, but it’s comfortable knowing it is there in case you want to go back.
Put away the old. You are a new creation. God created you. If He can do that, He has the power to help you overcome any temptation of the old life.
Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
I love the encouragement to put away the old ways. For me, I have to put them away again and again. Thanks for the reminder of the power of God to help me do that!
Thank you for sharing Jane.
Thanks for sharing, Tim. The fact that we’re changed is wonderful. Then making progress by continual efforts to communicate with God.
Thank you Joni!
Oh the troubles putting off the old can be. Everyone who knew you before Christ knows the old you so well. They recognize the old you easier than the new you. Like the flag holders it sometimes feels “easier” to keep the old one around as removing the old one requires work. So, we think if we just add the new one (Christ) and use it more often than the (old flag holder) people will forget all about the old one still hanging on next to the new one. But it does not work that way. Jesus has called us to be a new creation and we are to shed the old self for only the new self. I know from personal experience how hard that is when we choose to stay where everyone knew us before Jesus. Do the hard work required to remove all traces of the old self. Just as removing that old flag holder. It will be worth it in the end.
Thank you Teresa! I love the way you put it–“Do the hard work required to remove all traces of the old self.”