On: X pt. 2
The very essence of the Christian life is that we have been made new in Jesus. For many of us this means a sharp change from our old lives to new ones. The transition is not always easy. We wrestle with old sins and fight the temptation that eventually arises to go back to our former ways. The hope for the Christian is that God has made us new through his Son. It is in that truth that we find our hope.
I’ve spent a good bit of the last ten years thinking about Ephesians 5:1-10. It is the ultimate example of the recreation that happens in the life of the Christian. Paul rattles off this long list of sins and reminds the Ephesian church that they are no longer plagued by these sins.While they once would have been identified as sexually immoral, filthy mouthed, and idolaters, they are now children of light. They have been changed and made new by the work of Jesus on the cross.
Made New
This whole passage hinges on verse 8:
“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light..”
While reflecting on this verse this morning, I needed and still need to hear these words. . You are no longer defined by who you used to be. It took me a long time to understand that. I am one of those people who dwells on their mistakes. I ruminate on them and turn them over in my mind, thinking of how things could have been different-how I could have been different. It’s not always easy for me to believe that God has changed my heart, let alone is pleased by me.
There is tension between your old identity and way of life versus the new life you have in Jesus. I imagine it is the same for some of you, and it wouldn’t surprise me if some of you were sitting in that tension right now.
It can be hard for us to recognize the internal changes that come with life in Jesus because we don’t always feel them. And if we’re honest, externally, we don’t always live them. Even with the process of sanctification, old habits die hard. I became a Christian at the age of 22, so I had a lot to unlearn. I had ingrained habits and thoughts that only the transforming power of Christ could change. This change will take place for the rest of my life as the Holy Spirit does the hard work of excavating my innermost self for the purpose of making me more like Christ.
Another problem I faced and still face is my memories- not just mine, but also those who knew my old identity. Ten years later, there are people in my life who only see me as who I used to be. For those of us who wrestle deeply with guilt and shame, this can be a hard bridge to cross. I don’t know about you, but it feels like every time I am about to turn the corner, someone reminds me of who I was and the feelings of shame come flooding back like the dam has been broken.
If you are anything like me then you need to hear these words: Now you are light in the Lord. Your and my identity is rooted in Jesus. When God looks at us, He does not see our sin. Instead he sees the perfect righteousness of His son, Jesus. The words of Romans 8:1 ring so sweetly here: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If you don’t take anything else away, know this: you have been made new and your identity has been changed. Shadows will undoubtedly creep up over the course of your life, but that is expected. You can face the past as just that: the past. None of that defines you anymore. Child of the light, you are free today. Live that way.