Strolling Through Cemeteries

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” 2 Cor. 5:17

I don’t know about you but this is great news for which I am both humbled and grateful!  I only have to consider the old things to be thankful they have been replaced some new things.  I certainly have much more work to do in ridding myself of the flesh but thankfully I have the awareness to strive for new things.  Once we are in Christ, we cannot afford to stroll through the spiritual cemeteries where we have laid certain behaviors to rest.

In my cemetery, gossip and judgment have their headstone.  In my cemetery, frivolous spending and dishonesty marks a spot.  There is a shrine in my cemetery that reads ‘Look at the great things I have done’.  We all have markers that reveal who we were before we allowed Christ to reign in us and through us.  It is only human to revisit old markers, but the success is when we do not linger.  To linger around old behaviors is to open ourselves up to losing our conquered land.  If our old things are judgment and gossip we must stay clear of others who still struggle with those attitudes.  If our old things are unforgiveness and bitterness, we must make intentional time for the Holy Spirit to settle our emotions.  If our old things are taking credit for the good we must humble ourselves before the Lord.

Our new things will always resemble freedom!  Freedom in Christ...freedom from whatever has held us captive in the old life...freedom from the natural flesh.  The less of ourselves that people see mean they will see more of Christ’s character.

What old things in your life have been replaced with the new in Christ?  What behaviors are you still praying to pass away?  Whatever flesh challenge that is still a struggle for you can be choked out of your life through prayer and submission to God.  It all begins with the mind and the things on which we are to focus.

‘Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God’ Col. 3:1-3.