01/24/2022
When we say that we have been renewed in Christ, and speak of having put off our old selves have we really done this, or just stored that self away where it can’t be readily seen, but remains available to us? Does our old self embarrass us when we allow it to come out of hiding, but even so, we still find something about that life which tempts us, or thrills us? In keeping who we once were, who are we lying to most; God, Jesus, our fellow believers, or to ourselves?
“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,”
Ephesians 4:22-23 ESV
I have a tendency to be overweight, so I watch myself, and when I get to that place where I need to lose a few pounds I go on a diet. To drop that weight I eat less, and I also eat healthier. Interestingly though, I buy the new healthier foods and stock my shelves and refrigerator with them, but I can never bring myself to throw away all of those sweet snacks in the pantry, the buttered popcorn in the cupboard, or the cases of sugar filled soft drinks in the basement. No, I change my diet, but I keep a remnant of who I was so that I can pay him a visit every once in a while. I never truly reform my eating habits; because if I did my weight would always be in control. This is often true of our faith as well. We say that we are changed, but we keep a few of those sinful snacks around… we keep some rowdy friends that we used to go carousing with, some hard liquor hidden from view because it is just too expensive to throw away, or maybe the phone number of an old flame who sexually gratified us. We say we don’t visit sin any more, and yet we keep these keys to its door. Does this sound familiar?
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 ESV
If we are an artist we know that for white paint to remain white we can’t allow a single drop of another color to taint it. If a little red is added we have pink, if a touch of black is dropped into it then it becomes grey… well you can see where this is going. The same is true in our lives. We want everything to be clean and white, but tucked away in the basement is that odd can of red, or black. Why is this? Why do we keep around those remnants of who we once were to remind us, and tempt us?
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
James 1:14-15 ESV
The two examples I used, the food, and the paint, are only examples used to make a point about our faith, but we each have sinful things that we can call to mind that are similar as we look at our old lives, and avoiding these crumbs of sin is very much like what we have been discussing. Just the fact that we know what these things are means that we haven’t totally forgotten them… right? So we ask ourselves how can we possibly escape them? Well this doesn’t happen overnight, but through God’s Word, and by filling our mind to the point where there is no room left for those thoughts, we can make good progress…
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
We achieve our righteousness one step at a time; one degree after another, so don’t become discouraged; just more diligent!
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
The grace of God makes this transformation possible, but receiving His grace does not mean that we can keep on sinning. Does the thought of grace encourage us, or give us permission, to keep remnants of our old self around? No!
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
Romans 6:1-2 ESV
The point today is that we are to separate ourselves from who we once were, and all the sin that once dominated our lives. We need to put these memories, and temptations, behind us, and this will require that we work at it every day…so how are we progressing? Are we throwing away the snacks, and the old paint, or making excuses for them? Let’s pray that the Lord strengthens our resolve, and removes the keys to sin that we think we have hidden from Him. After all, He knows our hearts, and our secret hiding places.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who has redeemed us, and through whom your grace is changing us into new creatures. Help us Lord to throw off the chains of our old lives, and to be strong enough to give you the keys to the doors that would lead us back into sin during the moments of of our weakness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our Lord who knows our heart, and sees every shred of sin we are tempted to hold onto. Help us Father to separate ourselves from those habitual sins that we think no one knows about, but which are like a cancer to our soul. We will praise you as your Word, and your steadfast love, help us escape these sins. We raise our arms to you as your Holy Spirit lifts us away from who we were, by showing us who we are becoming. We detest our old selves who separated us from righteousness, and you. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and make us clean, and white, even as a new fallen snow. Seat us at your table, and feed us with the manna of your Word. Let no trace of our old sinful selves remain, and see us as eternally pure in Jesus… having chosen not to remember what once threatened us with death.
Rich Forbes