I love the language Paul used in 2 Corinthians 5 to describe the transformation that occurs when God saves and calls us. Our old is gone. We’re made new. We are morphed into “ministers of reconciliation” calling people to be reconciled to God. We are God’s new agents of transformation. I love what’s new, and I’m always creating something new!
New turns my crank because I’m change agent wherever I go. The problem with change is that most people prefer to be left alone. When you start leaning into change needs, those who are open to change are like sponges soaking it up, while those who are guarding against change are looking for ways to get rid of you.
With God as my witness, I confess that I have parts of my life where I’m rapidly seeking change and renovation. I have other parts of my life where I still make excuses, coddle my comfort zone, and resist change. Yet the Hound of Heaven relentlessly pursues all of us with his healing and transforming love. He doesn’t want NEW to define part of us. He makes all of us NEW. God doesn’t want part of us smelling like Jesus while the rest of us is smelling and speaking and behaving like our culture.
Nowhere have I seen this battle between old vs new, good vs evil better depicted than in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. Last night in Desolation of Smaug, I watched two fighting elves turn their backs on their entire tribe who lived in hiding trying to keep out all the growing evil in the world. They had each other’s back, and they fought the evil orcs for a small band of dwarfs committed, against all odds, to reclaiming the mountain where their relatives were slain by the evil dragon. I have watched the transformation of a scared little hobbit, as he faced and conquered his fears, faced the dragon, and become a mighty warrior. I’ve watched each character deal with the temptation to turn against themselves, one another, and pursue selfish gain. But when I started writing this NEW blog yesterday morning, I never knew what was coming…
God used all the events that transpired for almost fifty-five years and yesterday to bring to me to the mountain and dragon of fear that has held me in bondage for years. Looking that fire-spewing dragon in the face, I cast it out in the mighty name of Jesus and won a fierce battle and victory. The Spirit of God came over me with such power. My face to face war with the enemy I saw in the mirror was like staring Satan in the face. My entire face looked freaky distorted–like pure evil. What transpired was the Spirit of God fighting and winning the battle I shrank back from my entire life. What came over me in that encounter was God’s power, expressed in pure anger, saying to that mountain, “Be thou removed,” and it was demolished!
My friends, I dare you to stare down the dragons in the mirror and around you with the mighty power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. By His stripes you were healed. All of you. Absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ. “Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.” (Romans 7:38) I pray that you experience the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living in you and transforming your mortal body into a reconciled minister of the gospel of peace. As we lay down our bodies as living sacrifices, God transforms us by changing the way we think and live. (Romans 12:1-2) He makes all things NEW!
What’s the NEW that God is inviting you to experience with Him?