New

2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks to the word new, and this new we now live in is like a new creation, and all the old is replaced with the new, and the old is no more. 2 Corinthians 5:^17. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Where is this new beginning? It is in a soul that has been transformed at our core, and our heart is no longer the same. NEW!! We are born again. My wife and I play pickleball at some courts in our town, and we have watched the progress of a new building that is being built on the way. As we see the progress, I usually end up saying, "Well, they are a little further along." Today it looked like the outside of that building was completed, grass and all. I told Andra that we only see the outside completion, and we can't see what is being done on the inside, like sheetrock, finish trim, and the plumbing. It is like the new convert. This is why we need to allow God to do some finishing on the inside, as well as the outside.

This 'finish' work for the new believer happens when mentored by another mature believer, as that mentor takes them through 'the paces' of living a changed life. All things are new, but when that newness wears off, even an excited new believer can be led astray. That 'new car smell' goes away with time, and even Febreze can't bring it back if we let the car get dirty on the inside and stay dirty. Of course, our life can get some 'dirt' in it, and John tells us how to deal with sin in 1 John 1: ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. God has already forgiven the sin, but we need to keep that relationship current on our end, and the newness will be there again. This is our faith walk, and we need to keep it current.

Paul wrote the following words to the church in Colossae and reminded them about keeping faith current by putting to death the old life and live in the new life. Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. ⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Guard your heart, and as the writer of Proverbs writes in Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. NEW HEART- NEW LIFE

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren