We are born with a body and
a soul – our mind, will and emotions. On the other hand, our spirit – our
connection to God – is dead in Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12). We grow up searching for some way to revive that
dead spirit. We try money, clothes, shoes, cars, homes, education, thrills,
immorality, success, beauty spas, cruises, relationships, and knowing all the
right people. They only serve to frustrate us, however, because there is no
reality in them.
Many try the intellectual
route by improving their mind through pursuing philosophy and all of the
education channels available. Some pursue physical excellence with martial
arts, diet and rigorous exercise routines. Others dabble in spiritual pursuits
such as Eastern religions, Satanism, the occult, witchcraft, sorcery or New Age
ideologies. We still ache deep inside, however, because our spirit is dead (Ephesians
2:1). This is when we realize that we
need a Savior.
There is only one truly
fulfilling and lasting source of salvation, however, and that is Jesus Christ. The first rung on the ladder to spiritual maturity is to recognize that
Jesus became what we are, so that we might become what He is. Jesus became sin,
so that we may have His righteousness. By faith in Jesus Christ,
we actually become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). When God looks at us, He
does not see a struggling human being, but a glorified saint. Our spirit is reborn and we find peace and
fulfillment that were never possible through any other venue.
Faith
is the promise of the things we hope for and the evidence of things we cannot
see (Hebrews 11:1). We surrender our old, carnal nature to God and He
creates in us a whole new person (Ephesians 4:24). We exchange our sin nature for the righteousness of
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 5:8). We unite with Christ in His death and arise to live a
whole new life in Him (Romans 6:6,11).
God conforms us to the image of His Son by sanctifying our soul a little more
each day (Romans 8:29).
When we walk away from sin
in all of its forms, we pursue holiness and Godliness instead (Romans
6:2-4). Christ removes all of the
condemnation we accumulated over our years of sin (Romans
8:1). He frees us from our sin nature as
we choose to live as a bondservant to God now and throughout eternity (Romans
6:22). We no longer reap the
consequences of sin, but enjoy the benefits of abundant, eternal life in this
world and also in the next (John 10:10).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by You all
things were made (Colossians 1:16; John 1:3; Col 1:17; 2 Corinthians
5:17). In You, our life is made complete
(Colossian
1:28, 2:10). As we surrender to Your
will for our life and walk in Your truth by the guidance of Your Holy Spirit
moment by moment throughout the day, we have everything we need to live a
fulfilled life now as well as in eternity. We thank You for the abundance You
provide for us in this life, as well as in the next.
Thought for the Day:
Living
a committed life of faith and trust in Jesus Christ results in fulfillment in every
area of life.
