“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, New King James Version).
Some people enjoy taking an old item, sometimes someone else’s castoff, and repurposing it into a lovely item with a new use. Although I’m not the most skilled in doing such things, at times I enjoy the challenge of making an old piece into something more attractive. And so began my project to update an old, scarred buffet. The finish was worn, and there were numerous scratches and dings. Some of the veneer had even pealed off at the bottom. It had definitely seen better days.
Over a long weekend, I sanded, patched, and painted. I invested a lot of hours into making the old piece look almost new. But really, the only thing new was the fancy drawer pulls I purchased. I felt a bit of pride in my efforts when done. The buffet looked so much better than the tired, battered thing it once was. But deep inside–I knew. I knew where every ding had been. I knew the places I’d filled and patched. I knew what was really underneath that new paint. When all was said and done, I still had an old piece of furniture just fancied up a bit.
Working on that buffet made me think about my life and God’s power. His Word tells us when we come to Him and are filled with His Spirit, we aren’t just refurbished. We become a new creation. The dings and scars of our old life are not just hidden; they are completely gone. God has given us a new heart and a new mind. We have new desires and new ambitions. We are headed in a new direction. “All things have become new.”
Satan would like to remind us of those old sins and the scars they left. He enjoys telling us we really aren’t worth much and underneath is still the “old me.” Not true. We can look him in the eye and declare, “I am totally brand new. I am a new creation in Christ and you no longer have control of my life!”
We are not reconditioned. We are brand new!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for making me a new creation. My sinful life is gone, and my new life in You has begun. I no longer need to feel ashamed of the old habits, the old sins, the old desires. You have taken them away. You have made all things new in my life, and I am Yours.
Devotion by Mary Loudermilk
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