2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
This is one of those Scriptures where I need to rely on the truth of God's word and not to trust in my feelings. I have rarely ever felt like I was a new creation. My flesh reminds me repeatedly that I haven't really changed all that much. In my skin I feel like the same old person I've always been. The inner attitudes of focusing primarily on myself, of being worried about whatever, of wanting everything to go my way is very much still a part of me. I still struggle with the same issues that I've pretty much always struggled with. The sad truth is that the first response within me is not putting you first and loving you as Christ loves His church. It usually isn't even the second or third response. Sometimes it never gets to that response.
In order for the old man to get out of the way and die I find that there has to be a continual wrestling match between me and my flesh. My flesh has not changed one iota since becoming a Christian. That's why Christ stated that in order to follow Him we must pick up our cross daily. And I don't believe He meant it as a one time a day event either. I don't know about you but for me it's an ongoing funeral because as soon as I willingly submit my flesh to His cross my flesh demands a resurrection of it's own. It's a full time job continually shooting at the zombie who just wants to chew away at life. I have come to understand that this is just the way it is and the way it will be until literal physical death occurs. I know how morbid it sounds but I honestly look forward to this battle being over one day.
And it doesn't seem in the moments I experience it to have any real purpose but once again the word tells me otherwise; that when this struggle occurs it is for the purpose of refining faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). I also admit I don't sense a refining of my faith but once again, I must suspend my feelings and trust in the truth of His word.
If you haven't noticed the idea of the truth of God's word is a key issue for me. I can't live out this Christian life based on my thoughts and feelings but I must settle it within me that His word is true regardless of my experiences and feelings that accompany the experiences. Many would call this blind faith, foolishness, lack of intelligence, etc. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps they are wrong. All I know is that I am a completely lost man without this perspective. I have found nothing else to rely upon in order to have any semblance of peace and sense of reason and purpose in this life. I don't put my trust in humanity making the world a better place because humanity's win-loss record so far is horrible. I don't put my faith in government or any of these candidates to fix what ails this country let alone the world. The goodness of man and the power of the human spirit is woefully inadequate to mend the myriad problems that plague mankind.
New years eve seems to me to be somewhat of a sad celebration where people put their hopes yet again in themselves to make their lives better and to make the world a better place via resolutions of hopes that this year will be better than the last one. It reminds me of the idea of whistling past the graveyard. We know what the end result will be but we maintain a denial that somehow we can do something to ward off the inevitable. I know I am a pessimist. But honestly, has life really gotten that much better? Has the recent president made life better for most Americans? Will the next one make it better? And what the heck defines better? Yes we all have a blessed life where there are moments that are incredible in the riches of goodness but we make a grave mistake in thinking that somehow we made it happen. I did absolutely nothing to make my granddaughter look at me with those eyes and make my day with her laugh. I may have played a part in it but trust me, there have been times where I did everything I could to get that look and that laugh but she just wasn't having it.
There are amazing blessings that happen everyday. But when we look to ourselves or one another as the origin and manufacturer of those blessings we are looking in the wrong direction. All good things come down from heaven (James 1:17). They never originate with us. They descend from on high. It rolls downhill. Thank God for gravity.
So on this new years day the only thing that is actually new is whatever there is that is in Christ. It is not possible for anyone or anything to be new unless it is through the newness of the new birth provided only by the death and resurrection of the Christ. If you are in Him then you are among the new. As far as God is concerned the old man, the flesh that I wrestle with daily is dead and gone and I am a new creation. If He states that He has cast my sin as far as the east is from the west then no matter what my flesh and the accuser of the brethren tell me then He is right and everyone else is a liar, including me and my flesh. If He says that old things have passed away and that I am already seated (positioned) in heavenly places and that He sees me as new through the purifying righteousness of the blood of Christ then who am I to argue with Him about it.
We can all go on diets and exercise our collective butts off but unless we become born again and new then nothing substantial has really changed. Ask anyone who has ever lost a lot of weight. You feel great and so much better physically and emotionally but inevitably the old man or woman with their insecurities and feelings of low self-worth will eventually rear their ugly life taking heads. You might alter your flesh (ask Hollywoodians) but it is never going to be enough to bring real peace and security to anyone. This is only possible through the new life offered by Christ and Christ alone.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
