New Life: A Beautiful Mess
Imagine being there at the birth of a brand new baby. Maybe you have experienced that first hand!
You can hear them taking their first short breaths of air into their new set of lungs. Their feeble bodies experience so much inside and outside the womb...the joys and the mess of NEW LIFE begin.
Crying. Pooping. Cuddling. Burping. Cooing.
Sleeping. Not sleeping.
Smiling. Laughing. Screaming.
More pooping.
Repeat.
Quickly you can see how helpless, defenseless, and innocent newborns are. Try to comprehend the miracle of what exactly is holding these little newborns together.
What does "new life" look like for them?
What does "new life" look like for us?
Ephesians 4 cuts straight to the chase. Verse 22 - 24 says,
"Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life..." and it continues by saying, " ...put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Think of a "baby Christian." Just like a true infant enters the world, think of the many parallels an infant believer has. One who has taken baby steps to faith in Jesus needs a lot of assistance.
How do they grow spiritually? Feed them.
1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation."
How do they hear from God? Show them.
Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
How do they stop acting in immature ways? Teach them.
1 John 1:8-9 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
1 John 2:1-3 "My little children, I am writing these things to us so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we come to know Him, if we keep His commandments."
How do they begin healthier, more mature habits? Train them up.
Philippians 3:13-17 "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."
Changing Lanes is dedicated to hope found in new life.
The heart, soul, mind, and strength will continue to daily shed the old habits, old thoughts, and old ways to look more like Christ. In the same way an infant doesn't mature over night, a young believer takes time to grow.
Becoming free from addiction is that same spiritual journey.
Think about it. Some adults have more years lived in addiction than they do in actual sobriety.
Here's an example:
An average child becomes exposed to pornography at the age of 8.
On and off through middle school, high school, and on into the college, the addiction is fueled.
Now at age 32, 20+ years have now passed from the first exposure at age 8.
More years have been spent hiding, covering their tracks, and more shame, pain, and addiction then freedom.
We need the old life to die.
We need a new life.
Everyone begins as infants. New Life comes from freedom found only in Christ. For those that are in Christ, they are His, 100% saved by His grace.
The heart, soul, mind, and strength will continue to daily shed the old habits, old thoughts, and old ways to look more like Christ. This is our ongoing journey.
The old is gone.
The new has come.
