A Renewed Faith

INTRO.- ILL.- An elderly man visited a doctor for a thorough exam. After the exam, the doctor said, “You’re as fit as a fiddle. You’ll live to be eighty.” The man said, “But I am eighty!” The doctor replied, “See, what did I tell you?”

Most of us don’t mind growing older as long as we can stay somewhat fit and be able to do things.

There is a renewed emphasis on better health today. More people than ever are going to health clubs and YMCA’s in order to work out, get fit or stay fit. And even more than getting fit, there is the “extreme makeover” craze. Have you ever watched that TV show? I have found it to be quite interesting.

ILL.- One of the last shows I saw featured a girl named Kim whose teeth were horrible, to say the least. Some of her teeth were missing and others stuck nearly straight out from her gums and were jagged. Kim never went to the dentist to get her teeth corrected, and hoped that, for the first time in her life, she would not be afraid to kiss and smile.

Kim received a nose job, lower eyelid lift, upper lip reduction, breast augmentation, liposuction of abdomen and inner thighs, PRK eye surgery, laser hair removal, extraction of 6 front teeth and 4 lower teeth, lip and gum repositioning, crown lengthening, 2 crowns, upper and lower bridges, partial dentures and 5 da Vinci porcelain veneers.

It was amazing what they did for Kim! And in many ways, by changing her physical appearance, they also changed how she felt about herself. HER EXTREME MAKEOVER APPEARED TO BE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN HER LIFE. I am glad for what they did for her and others.

There is no doubt about it. When we feel like we look good, we also feel good about ourselves and have more confidence in life. But there are several downsides to these “extreme makeovers.” Few people can afford them. Most of them cost somewhere in the area of $60,000. Or more. Of course, the people who are chosen for that TV show have their “extreme makeover” paid for them.

Another downside is that eventually, the physical will still fade, bag and sag. There is only so much that doctors can do for us. We can prolong aging and its effect only so long.

Believe me, I don’t like this any more than anyone else. I would love to keep a certain amount of my youthfulness and youthful energy and ability.

However, the idea of getting a renewed body is something of a fairy tale. It sounds good, but for most of us, it’s not possible. Yes, we need to take care of ourselves, of the bodies that God has given to us. They belong to Him. We need to stay as fit as possible in order to live a better, more energetic life and be able to serve the Lord more effectively. God did put us here primarily to love and serve Him.

The greatest change than can take place in any of us and needs to take place in us, is a spiritual change. We all need an “extreme makeover” in that area.

Rom. 3:11-12 “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

A spiritual renewal is needed for us all! Is it possible? Where can we get it? We know the answer to these questions.

II Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

When people come to believe, accept, trust, and surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ He makes a change in their lives. For some, it’s a dramatic change or renewal. For others, it’s a bit slower, but nevertheless a change. But what about down the road? Is it possible to experience even more renewal? Yes!

Rom. 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF THE MIND.” The mind is the key.

II Cor. 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the key

As we put the mind on the things of God, the Holy Spirit who lives within us will renew us. Spiritual renewal is something that we all should desire.

ILL.- Henry Drummond, the Scottish-born preacher and writer, once wrote, “To become like Christ is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for…”

Drummond is saying that spiritual renewal which enables us to become more like Christ is the most important thing in the world. Our greatest goals in life should be spiritual, spiritual renewal. I see some of this renewal in our Phil. 4:10-13 text.