A new year is upon us! I love when a new year rolls around. It is a great time to evaluate the prior year, and to reflect on the things that worked well, as well as the things that did not. It is our opportunity to consider what needs addressing, areas in our life that need strengthening, and a time to consider what we want to let go of. A new year is a wonderful place to begin again; our opportunity for a “do-over”. It is somewhat reminiscent of the gift of our salvation experience…an opportunity to be born again. All the old has passed away and everything is made new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I love that God, in all His goodness, set up our salvation this way. I often consider my past - everything I was rescued out of; my bad choices and attitudes; all I am forgiven of; and all He has made new in my life. The word of God compares those who return to their former way of life as a “dog returning to his vomit.” (Proverbs 26:11, 2 Peter 2:22). When reflecting on this, how or why I would ever want to return to my former way of living?
Often as followers of Jesus Christ, our lives reflect more of the world than the difference Jesus can make to those who have come to know Him. Jesus takes us from darkness into light; however, often we continue to wallow in the things of darkness. Jesus sacrificed all He was in order for it to be possible for us to not only live eternally with Him, but to live a life in abundance now. Unfortunately, the American life of abundance may be confused with what the Lord wants for us. We want the comfort and affluent life. But, His promised abundance is the result of giving ourselves away. Sometimes we receive the gift of His sacrificed life, and surrender but only a small part of ourselves in return.
Instead of our lives being transformed into the likeness of Christ, we tweak the message of the Gospel to conform to our lifestyles. We tend to compartmentalize what is His and what is ours. We may attend church and pray once or more each week, but we keep our lifestyle choices, our actions, and the use of our time and resources under our control. We surrender very little to submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit.
It leaves me with many questions. Have we, as the body of Christ, bought into the philosophy of our day? Do we subscribe to the psychology of relativism and all inclusiveness? Have we brought too much of the world into the temple? In soft peddling the Gospel, hoping to not insult anyone, have we weakened the message? The Word says that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Sometimes, in trying to make the Gospel message more palatable to the un-churched or the non-believer, we share only a partial Gospel message with those who are lost. We teach of Jesus’ love and forgiveness, and leave behind His justice and call to holiness. We make Him our best friend shaped in our image, and leave behind the awe and holy fear that He deserves.
I know in my own life, it was hearing how I had fallen short that convicted me of my sin and need for a Savior. People who are hungry for truth, and who are searching for God, want something that the world does not have to offer. If we have a radical faith, it is a faith that changes lives. There has to be a before and after picture to life in Christ. Then people will be drawn to what we have. They want something to live and die for. They want and need someone…Jesus.
When Jesus healed the sick and brought sight to the blind, He also forgave their sins. His healing and forgiveness would follow with the statement, “go and sin no more” (John 8:4-11). This statement tells me that it is possible to live a holy, sanctified, and set apart life. I have seen the bumper sticker that says “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” Which is only a partially accurate statement. We all have sinned, and when we are born again, we become Saints. We are not perfect, and we sometimes sin; however, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we strive to follow Christ and live as he did. We no longer make a practice of sinning the way we did previous to our salvation.
So when evaluating and reflecting on this past year, how did you do? Who did you live your life for? Are you closer to Jesus or further away than you were the year previous? When looking at your schedule and your bank account from 2013, do they show evidence of a life lived for Kingdom purposes or for this world?
What would it look like to live a life consecrated for Jesus Christ? What are we willing to surrender?
As we look forward to 2014, among our goals and resolutions, might we take the challenge to leave the former life behind? Might we live a life passionate, sold-out, and radical in our love for Jesus and our neighbor? Might we live a life worthy of the sacrifice Christ paid on our behalf?
My prayer is that we live in humility, that we hunger for more of our Savior, and that we desire to be used by Him to further the Gospel message. Everything we gain of the world is worthless compared to the all surpassing treasure of knowing Christ in a personal way. As we live our lives sold-out for Jesus, He will give us a mission, a purpose, and a reason to get up in the morning. We will live abundantly and fully alive! Jesus said the one who has been forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:36-50). May we love Him fully in 2014!
