Whatever happened to that old guy?
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Each of us, at one time, was an old man or an old woman. Not old in the sense of experienced, or wise, or resolute, or strong, or particularly kind or loving. No, this old person was quite the opposite. He or she was …
- Self-reliant, self-righteous, self-justifying, self-deluded, and plain selfish
- Immoral and impure
- Easily angered, jealous, fraught with strife, disputes, and dissention
- Unstable, with an unreliable foundation built on the shifting sands of acquired power, success, comfort, and recognition
- Worried and anxious, seeking after worldly needs and worldly pleasures.
- A slave. Enslaved to the evil one, and enslaved to his or her own passions and lusts.
- Guilty -- unable to uphold the moral law written on the heart. Accusing others by a law that he or she could not uphold.
- Condemned by sin and transgression, and without excuse.
But something amazing happened to that old person. When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons or daughters. And we were crucified with Christ so that it was no longer us who lived, but Christ who now lives in us. And the life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us.
I’m happy to say that for us who have put our faith in Christ, that old person is dead. Gone. And in their place isn’t some cleaned up refurbished version of the old -- dusted off, wound back up and ready to try again. No, it’s someone entirely new:
- A son or daughter
- An heir
- Someone at peace, reconciled to God -- trusting in Him in all circumstances instead of leaning on their own understanding
- One whose foundation is built on the solid rock of trust in the grace of a loving and powerful God -- a loving and powerful father.
- A person growing daily in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Not conformed to the world’s patterns, but transformed -- with a new mind and a pure heart
- A person with a purpose -- to be an ambassador in this world for the kingdom in which they are a citizen. To be salt, and light -- having hope, and being prepared to share the reason for that hope with anyone who will hear.
And finally, someone longing for that day when is heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!