New creatures

When I planted flower bulbs in the spring, I was a little skeptical. Seeds, bulbs, eggs, and caterpillars stir up a lot of imagination. I wondered how these ugly, brown, misshapen bulbs would produce the beautiful flowers pictured on the packaging labels. Well, with a little time, water, and sunshine, my disbelief turned to awe, especially when green shoots poked their heads out of the soil. Then the pink and white, 15-centimeter-wide blossoms opened. This wasn't false advertising! What a magnificent miracle! Once again, the spiritual is reflected in the physical. Let's look around us. Let's look in the mirror. How can carnal, selfish, vain, greedy, idol-worshipping people become holy and perfect? ​​Jesus said, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt 5,48).

This requires a great deal of imagination, which, fortunately for us, God possesses in abundance: “But as he who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct.” (1. Petrus 1,15)We are like these onions or seeds in the ground. They look dead. There seemed to be no life in them. Before we became Christians, we were dead in our sins. We had no life. Then something miraculous happened. When we began to believe in Jesus, we became new creatures. The same power that raised Christ from the dead also raised us from the dead. We have been given new life: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2. Kor 5,17).

It's not a new beginning, we are born again! God wants us to be part of his family; therefore, he transforms us into new creations through the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as those onions no longer resemble what I planted before, so we believers no longer resemble the person we once were. We no longer think the way we used to, behave the way we used to, or treat others the same way. Another significant difference: We no longer think of Christ the way we used to think of him: "Therefore, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; and even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we no longer regard him that way." (2. Kor 5,16).

We have been given a new perspective regarding Jesus. We no longer see him from an earthly, unbelieving perspective. He was not only a good man who lived properly and a great teacher. Jesus is no longer a historical figure who lived more than 2000 years ago. Jesus is Lord and Redeemer and Savior, the Son of the living God. He is the one who died for you. He is the one who gave his life to give you life - his life. He made you new.

by Tammy Tkach