The New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”    – 2 Corinthians 5:17


Happy New Year to all of you. 

I hope this year is filled with change for you.  Change is often viewed as a negative in the eyes of those experiencing it.  Let’s face it, we all love to be comfortable in our routines and reduce the amount of stress in our lives.  But the change I am referring to is on the inside.  It is my hope and dream for you to find growth this year.  Not around the waistline, but in your mind and heart.  Stretch yourself this year to think beyond the possible and predictable.  Don’t exit 2019 as the same person you entered as.  Strive to achieve things and make an impact on the world that conveys the love, grace and mercy of our Lord.  Use the strength of His Word and wisdom to change the lives of those around you.  It is often uncomfortable to take up one’s place in His kingdom, because it will require you to put more of yourself into it.  This is the change that I am praying comes over you this year like a storm.  My hope is that it fully envelopes your thoughts, desires and actions this year, and you find a way to express it to others.

When Jesus Christ comes into the heart of the believer, it should not be viewed as an insignificant, ordinary day.  It is the single most important day of that person’s life.  I hope you have come to that point in your life.  The point to accept that Jesus Christ is Lord and the one true way to salvation.  If you have not, I encourage you to send me an e-mail, or reach out to your local church and seek His truth this year.  You cannot be the same person, once you have received Jesus Christ into your heart.  We are all new creations in Him from whence we came.  In that instant you will not experience physical change, but your spiritual body and mental awareness of truth and righteousness will be recreated anew from that point forward.

Becoming a New Creation in Christ, does not mean problems go away and life is easier.  You’ll still wake up the next morning with the same bills, same stress’, same job and relationships from before your salvation.  The change will be in your perspective on all of these things.  A Christ centered perspective says – “In this world I will have trouble, but my faith is not in this world, my faith is in Jesus Christ, who has conquered this world and all that is within it.”  With the knowledge that God truly loves you just as you are with scars, warts, dirt and all.  His love is not predicated on you cleaning yourself up first.  He has provided that for you.  Through Jesus Christ blood you will be cleansed of all of your iniquities and transgressions.  Tomorrow when you wake up and find yourself feeling unclean and unsaved, His blood is still sufficient.  This is not to say that we are free to continue sinning without repentance. 

The scriptures state that we are a New Creation because in Christ we recognize the sin in our lives and are compelled to get rid of it.  The choices you make as a Christian have a new perspective, a new lens applied to them.  The lens of the Holy Spirit dwelling within your heart upon acceptance of Jesus Christ.  The conviction you feel when you are continuing in sinful acts is the Holy Spirit reminding you of His righteousness.  Your awareness of right and wrong in God’s eyes will be illuminated through this relationship you have with the Holy Spirit.  Listening to it, acting on it and changing your ways is a decision you have to make.  The propensity to continue sinning will not be gone, just because you said a few words and accepted Jesus Christ.  We still live in an evil world, filled with the sinful nature of mankind.  Satan does not leave one alone, just because they discovered the truth.  Generally, his attacks become more direct and significant. 

Understand the battle Satan is fighting with God is to steal the one thing God desires and that is the salvation of all mankind.  In Satan’s attempt to equal himself to God, his desire is to pull people away from God with whatever means possible.  This includes: greed, sex, addictions, pride, jealousy, shame, guilt and a plethora of other unrighteous behavior.  Through Christ we are changed to view these attacks in a new light and perspective.  We are strengthened by His word to take on the challenges every day and defend our heart and soul from the world’s attacks.  This is the change that I pray for you to encounter this year.  I pray for you to recognize just who it is that you have turned too, and use His power to defend and push back the attacks of unrighteousness in your life.  2019 is going to be an incredible year for you to do the work of the Lord.  Read, listen, learn and act.  Choose to make a difference with the salvation that you have been given.


Prayer:
Almighty God,
give us a new heart this year to live more vibrantly for You in our daily life.  Strengthen us each day to fight the battles for that day and to hold true to the righteousness that You have demonstrated through the life of Your Son.  Convict us of our unrighteousness and help us overcome the temptations in this world.  We acknowledge that our strength comes from You.  In Your name we pray - Amen

© Sondove Enterprises, 2018
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