All Things New

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

– Isaiah 43:19

It's often an uncertain economy. Sometimes it's a midlife crisis. But whatever the reason, special people from across America are reinventing their careers — and ultimately — who they are. In his book What Should I Do with the Rest of My Life? author Bruce Frankel introduces us to several remarkable individuals who turned their backs on the past to do something completely different. Thomas Dwyer, a 70-something former intelligence officer, joined a dance troupe. And then there's Deborah Jack, who left behind her two-decades-long career in financial publishing to go into business for herself with a Fetch! Pet Care franchise.

But one of the biggest change stories of all involves Fife Symington. Back in 1997, the former two-term governor of Arizona was convicted on seven counts of bank and wire fraud, and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and five years of probation. A federal appeals court eventually overturned his convictions, and he received a presidential pardon. Nevertheless, Symington abandoned politics, graduated from culinary school, and became an accomplished pastry chef!

These success stories are nothing less than inspirational. But even so, many folks avoid new things — particularly as they get older. But big changes can reap even bigger rewards. And as the saying goes, people often don't see the light until they feel the heat.

You won't find any arguments about that in the Bible. In Genesis, we read that God told Abraham, who was an old man at the time, to leave his beloved country for a far-off land. And because he obeyed, Abraham became the father of Israel. Moses also had a midlife crisis that drastically altered his career path. Raised within the Egyptian royal family, he fled the country after killing a cruel taskmaster, and spent the next several decades in anonymity as a shepherd. But God never forgot Moses. And he used his unlikely servant to switch gears yet again. This time, it was for Moses' return to Egypt to tell Pharaoh — the world's most-powerful ruler — to set God's people free.

God may or may not call you to make drastic changes to your career or address. But he does call on every Christ-follower to make a profound spiritual change — one that lets us see through his eyes and take on his perspective. As Jesus puts it, we all must be born again.

The word-picture the apostle Paul paints through the book of Ephesians is that we must strip off the old self and put on the new, much like exchanging filthy rags for a beautiful new set of clothes. But how do we do that? It all begins by admitting that we're fatally flawed individuals who can do nothing on our own to save ourselves from the punishment we deserve. And the next step is to believe on Jesus Christ, the only One who can save us because he long ago paid our sin-debt in full. After all, we can never do enough or be good enough on our own merits to meet God’s standards for perfection. It's only through our faith in Jesus that we can become a new creation.

With 2023 winding down, the timing of this crucial truth is hardly coincidental. So, as we approach the New Year, let's do more than make half-hearted resolutions about changing for the better. Let's instead start 2024 with a better attitude ... and a new Spirit.

 

Let God Be the Judge

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

– Luke 6:37 

Judgment is arguably one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible. For example, many people — including some professing Christ-followers — say that no one has the right to judge anyone … or at least call them out for a supposed sinful deed, attitude, or behavior. And they’re also quick to quote Jesus’ words from Matthew’s gospel:

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

With that in mind, Scripture does direct Believers to hold fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ accountable for living according to God’s high standards. The key is that we must first address our own shortcomings to avoid committing another familiar sin: hypocrisy. But rest assured, we can judge fellow Christ-followers if we do so fairly from pertinent biblical standards. It’s in John 7:24 that Jesus

cautioned: 

“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

And in Matthew 7:18-19 he also made this familiar observation about judging others:

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.”

Christ-followers have open access to God’s truth through the Bible, prayer, and even wise counsel from fellow Believers. We should therefore have less trouble than others with telling right from wrong and good from evil — and living our lives accordingly. However, when we point our finger at someone else, our hand’s other four fingers point back at us. That’s why we must look closely in the mirror: Are our own words, thoughts, and actions beyond reproach? And we also must consider if the would-be transgressor simply needs guidance. Is he or she already a fellow Christ-follower? Or is the so-called “sinner” someone who never signed up for Jesus’ walk of faith in the first place? 

The answers determine the proper action. But either way, Christ-followers must hold themselves to a higher standard of behavior. And on the flipside, we must let God be the judge of those outside the faith. He knows the whole story, and we’re hardly in the position to condemn anyone. As we read in Romans 14:10:

“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

Regardless of what we think or say about judging others, let’s remember that love should be our core value and motivation in whatever we think, say, and do. The apostle John sums up this vast principle in just three small words: God is Love. So, with that in mind, let’s hand over the gavel and let God be the judge.

Saying Yes to God

Then I looked things over and told the leaders, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of your enemies! The Lord is great and fearsome. So think of him and fight for your relatives and children, your wives and homes!"

– Nehemiah 4:14

It’s a common misconception — particularly among new Believers — that life’s struggles will disappear once they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But the truth is quite the opposite. In fact, Christ-followers are particularly susceptible to the obstacles of life when they say YES to God and seek to do his will. 

These pitfalls and detours can take several disheartening forms. It might be criticism or ridicule of our efforts from an enemy, co-worker, or even a family member. And in extreme cases, the situation could turn malicious, violent, or even fatal.

The saying “No good deed goes unpunished” applies here, which is why we shouldn’t be surprised when we take heat for trying to help others see the light. In fact, we should beware if our faith-journeys are too smooth and trouble-free. It could mean that the devil doesn’t consider us a threat to his plans. And it’s then that we can become our own worst enemy: 

“How terrible when everyone says only good things about you,” warns Jesus, “because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.”

So, what should we do when saying yes to God gets too tough? 

The first thing is to know our opposition and acknowledge its existence. Running away, ignoring the situation, or pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it disappear. Then we need to pray for God’s help and guidance. Likewise, we must pray for our enemies — and even do good for them. And finally, we can’t be afraid to stand up for what we’re doing. If it’s something that comes from God, saying yes to him and fighting for what’s right is worth the trouble and effort. 

That’s a tall order. But remember that we’re not in the fight alone, and God has the last word. Moreover, since Jesus has already paid the price on the cross for the world’s sins, the battle is already won, and the obstacles are overcome. As the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Christ-followers in Ephesus:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

There’s a spiritual battle underway between Christ-followers and the adversary’s deceit and false appearance of power. But rest assured, victory is ours when we say YES to God.