Opening illustration: A few years ago, a story in a National American Magazine described a couple who “adopted” two wolf puppies. They discovered the wolves, while making a movie about the caribou in Alaska. They took them to their home, raised them, gave them the kindest treatment, and for a while the wolves behaved just like friendly dogs. Finally, however, the wolves turned on their masters, who barely escaped with their lives, and then fled to join a wild wolf pack. No matter how kind their treatment, the nature of the wolves was such that eventually they were bound to behave like other wolves. The wolf nature could not be educated out of them.
Our sinful nature is the same. It always stays the same. No amount of education, refinement, culture, counseling, psychiatric treatment, self-help courses, New Year’s resolutions or anything else can take away its selfishness and proneness toward sin. All of us have fallen, and our fall is not something in the past. It is something very much present right now. It is personal for each one of us. All of us come to a point when we want that which will be harmful to us. We stop listening to God and let the world tell us what to do! We change our loyalty from the Creator to the world.
Introduction: Our identity changed completely when we became a follower of Jesus, it changed from sinner to saint. If we stumble from time to time, our identity still does not change. God will still look at us in the same way. He will look at us in heaven-in Christ. God has made us into something new. He has taken off our old life. In Christ we are changed into someone who didn’t exist before. What we receive isn’t the point. What we do as a Christian doesn’t determine who we are-it’s who we are that determines what we do. Understanding our identity in Christ is essential to successfully living the Christian life. No one can constantly behave in a way that’s inconsistent with the way he perceives himself. Becoming a Christian changes, a person completely. We are to look at others through caring eyes. We must make it a habit to put the best possible construction on any situation.
The New Garment with an Old Patch: (Luke 5:36-37)
Our Lord Jesus Christ compared the new life in Him to a new garment. Looking back to our old life and trying to retain some of it is exactly like trying to patch an old dress with a piece from a new garment. Such is a futile operation. Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined (Luke 5:36-37). The Church wants to tell us that if we want to start a new life with Jesus Christ, we must leave the old one completely because it is not possible otherwise old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Many people live their life in duality trying to blend the world with God. In the Old Testament when people tried to do so, God sent Elijah the prophet to warn them saying, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). The folks who think they can spend Saturday night in night clubs and bars with bad company and then turn around and come to church on Sunday are just fooling themselves. A new life in Christ is burial of the old one. That is what the Mystery of Baptism does, bury our old man and resurrect us with Christ buried with Him in baptism (Colossians 2:12).
What are the Obstacles on the Road to Renewal?
There are two main obstacles stare us in the face as we journey through the process of renewing our lives:
1. Adhering to the old A new life with Christ entails a fresh start and when we are about to start a new life in Him we should sever ourselves from all that can hinder the progress of that relationship. A prominent figure in the Holy Bible who had the courage to do that without regret nor return is St. Paul. According to worldly standards he was considered a successful prominent figure. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless (Philippians 3:4-6).
However, after encountering Christ and giving his life over to His service St. Paul came to realize that but what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him (Philippians 3:7-9). He knew exactly that the two can never match nor blend together.
Another example is St. Mathew whom the church put as an example of relinquishing everything for the sake of Christ. A Levite, of noble, rich, influential prestigious descent who upon hearing the Lord Jesus Christs call follow me, he immediately arose and followed Him (Matthew 9:9).
Adhering to the old could always be supported with fear of the unknown, uncertainty of the future and unwillingness to leave the Comfort Zone. Today Christ is calling you to leave behind your sinful life and come and follow him today, if you will hear His voice do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:7-8). And now with all our heart we follow you; we fear you and seek your presence. Do not put us to shame (Daniel 3:41-42, Septuagint). That was the prayer of Azariah, one of the three young men.
2. Reliance on one’s efforts Many would want to live a new life in Christ. However, they do not know how. They think that they could do it themselves by increasing their efforts and promises, only soon to discover their failure and so fall into depression and lose hope. Such people need to know that no matter what they do and how they do it, change comes from God.
Thus, is the ultimate result of the efforts of whosoever relies on himself in building his spiritual life and renewing his promises. All the spiritual practices such as fasting, attending church, praying, reading the Word of God are all means to an end and not an end in themselves. All they do is they place us in the orbit of Gods mercy and allow it to find us and work in us. Change is impossible without God’s Grace and Mercy.
Evidence of Renewal
Just as light cannot be hidden once it exists, so is the case with renewal in a Christians life. Genuine renewal cannot be missed nor faked. It is felt by whoever comes in contact with it. Cases of genuine renewal are many in history. To mention some examples:
(i) The Samaritan Woman: Before meeting Christ, she was a woman robed in shame and soiled history, a woman who because of her shame, could not face society and therefore had to come at odd times to fetch water. Knowing that, the Lord Jesus Christ sought her out and went to meet her at her shame to rid her from it. The result was, she left her fear, shame, and burden in her jar at the well and the prostitute was transformed into a preacher.
(ii) Paul of Tarsus: The most monumental biblical figure who underwent radical change is St. Paul. The new life in Christ transformed him from a persecutor into a persecuted, from an elite scholar into a pilgrim who time and time again had to undergo a lot of hardships, trials, imprisonment, lack of shelter, and finally martyrdom. St. Paul willingly underwent all of this for the sake of the One Whom he wanted to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10).
(iii) St. Augustine: Notorious for a lustful, sinful life, Augustine, the scholar boasted of his sins and shameful life. The product of twenty years of a weeping praying mother, he witnessed radical change and a transformation that incurred sanctity. His famous saying You have created us for Yourself and our souls will remain restless till we find our rest in You sums it all. Augustine is now addressed no less than St. Augustine.
Life in Christ has its own flavor to whoever tastes it. He is being described by the Bride of the Song Songs as His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely (Song 5:16). He and only He can bring about radical change.
With the advent of the New Year, let us all renew our hearts and genuinely seek a life in and with Christ where "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17) so that when the Owner of the vineyard shows up, He might find blameless, faithful and wise stewards working genuinely and diligently in His vine.
Illustration: Some of you might have seen or heard of a TV show called “Extreme Home Makeover.” On this show, a deserving family is taken off to a fancy resort for a week-long vacation; a team of designers and construction workers descends on their small and deteriorating home and transforms it into a mansion like nothing they could ever imagine. The looks on the faces of the family members when they see their new home are priceless. When we accept Christ as our Savior and walk with him in faith, we also get an extreme makeover. God allows us to become new again. Beyond forgiveness, beyond cleansing, he makes us holy through Jesus Christ.
Application:
? Real change starts with new life, not just a new leaf.
? Real change is a process, not a destination.
? Real change is letting go and grabbing hold.
