More Than a Facelift

 “And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:10)

The little voice from the back seat suddenly asked, “Is your name written in the book?” Our excursions together often proved interesting, and apparently this would be another of those times. Once I had learned that Grandma came to visit for “forty days and forty nights.” Shifting my thoughts to her question, I soon grasped what she meant. “Yes, my name is in the book” I assured her.

“When was it written in the book?” she pursued.

“A long time ago,” I was able to tell her.

While my young friend did not understand the full meaning of her question, she remembered the picture in a storybook that her Sunday school teacher had shown of names being written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27). I was glad that I could assure her that I had already taken the necessary steps to get my name written down in the book (Acts 2:38).

When we come to the Lord and are filled with His Spirit, a lot of new things happen to us.

• He makes us a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17).
• He removes our old stony heart and replaces it with a new heart—a divine heart transplant— and then places a new spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26).
• He gives us a new name (Revelation 3:12).
• Even our minds are made new (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23).

We become a totally transformed person through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A friend related the reaction of her co-workers after she experienced her own personal Pentecost. At work the next day, her colleagues detected a change but couldn’t decide what was different. Finally, one asked, “Did you have a facelift?” They didn’t realize that it was more than a facelift; she had the complete ultimate makeover.

When we become a new person in Christ, others will notice.

Ephesians 4:22-24 describes what happens in this transformation.

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (ESV)

Our thoughts will change. Our talk will change. Our actions will change.

Some assert they are a Christian and yet their lives are not Christ-like. If there is no change, we are still the “old man.”

Some attempt to make themselves over into a new image at the beginning of a new year. They write a long list of resolutions and decide to lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more, spend less . . . you get the idea. Most of these self-transformations only last a few short weeks until the person falls back into old habits.

Some approach living for God in the same way. They feel they must make themselves “good enough” for God to accept them. When they get their sin problems “fixed” in their lives, they will bring their made-over self to God for salvation. Man, however, does not have the power within himself to resolve the sin problem. Only God can do that.

When we let God do the transformation, the image we take on will be His (Colossians 3:10).

Lord, thank You for the transforming power of Your Spirit working in my life. I do not have the power within myself to change; but because You have filled me with Your Spirit, my life is completely different. I am no longer the person I once was. I am now a new creation in Christ.