A New Life, and a New Beginning ...

Something new is happening in the Church.

Someone in the Church has just given birth to a new born baby. And family members join in on the celebration. Grandpa told me that there'd be "50 people in the waiting room," and he wasn't far off, either!!

The baby was born, Mom and Dad are tired, but elated at the same time. Grandma and grandpa are happy with their first born grandchild. Great grandparents? Yeah, they're happy too, but this was number something or other!

It makes me wonder ...

I like new things. For some reason, I have been trained to like new things - from the beginning of my days. New toys, new clothes, new shoes, new ball gloves, new fresh-fallen snow, new cars, new house, new job, new baby, new son-in-law, new grandson, new job opportunities, and the list goes on and on.

My father once took an old bicycle and did an extreme makeover. He replaced the wheels, the brakes, the seat, and the handlebar grips. He sanded and painted the bike so well, that everybody thought it was a brand spanking new bike! When I rode that bike to school on the first day of school after Christmas vacation, someone stole it by cutting off the chain. That tells you something about the value of that Bike.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5:17. If anyone is in Christ he IS a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. Even in the Old Testament, God has promised us something new - a new heart, a new spirit. Newness all around. It is just exciting, I think.

When Jesus Christ comes into your life, he infiltrates who you are, He makes everything new. With the newness of life you are given everything that comes with it, new attitudes, new habits, new behaviors, and new heart (passion and desire).

The old things are passed away, done away with, gone. The trash is taken out, new "paint" is applied, and there is a totally new and extreme makeover. Here's a special thing, you don't even have to take a vacation!! He does it instantly!! In essence, he makes you BRAND NEW.

What is exciting about that BRAND NEW LIFE is that people will rave about your new life. They might even want to "steal it." Don't hide your new life, but instead, stand it on a hill, shining brightly for all to see - giving them direction for how to get that new life for themselves!!

Are you in Christ? If so, look around you, look inside you and see if the newness is still there. Remember, we have a salvation that will never writher, or rot away. We have a salvation that thieves cannot steal, and moths cannot ruin. But we must keep it fresh with a newness in the relationship with Christ. If anyone is IN Christ (a present imperative), the old has gone and the newness has come.

May God be with you!!!

Dr. Rick McClain, Pastor

Heritage Church of the Nazarene