God does not look at us through the lens of our past. He sees us through the certainty and knowledge of a future designed by him. God cares more about our tomorrows than our yesterdays.
It is a good thing when Christians set goals to “be better.” Better at reading God’s Word and praying. Better at fellowship with other believers. And better at battling those things that would have us do or say the wrong thing.
Yes, all of that is good! But a better you is not the first goal. The goal that must come FIRST is becoming a NEW YOU in Christ.
We must become NEW before we can become better.
That transformation is activated by calling on the Apostle Paul’s life-changing declaration to the people of Corinth:
“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Becoming NEW is only possible because of Christ. “In Christ” means the miracle of our rebirth is based on nothing less than the saving work of Jesus.
If we try to become a “better you” before becoming NEW in Christ, guilt over our past will derail our faith train. The enemy will always use it as a weapon of destruction. And he does not miss targets like that one. His accuracy is stunningly precise.
Avoiding that fate comes when we put our faith in Jesus as a NEW CREATION and watch our past “stumbles” drift out of view.
We will be complete in eternity. In the meantime, our earthly journey is a perpetual process of being transformed into the image of Christ.
And that starts by becoming NEW in him.
I ask God to help me to remember that I am a new creation in Christ.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are there things from your past keeping you from believing you are a new creation in Christ?
“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
