Are you happy with the person reflected
every time you look at the mirror? What do you think of the person you see in
the mirror? What is so special about this person in the mirror that God had to
sacrifice His Son, Jesus to die for him/her?
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new.”
What does it mean by being a new creation
in Christ? It has nothing to do with any immediate change of your outward appearance or personality. But something has changed and will continue to change
inside of you. And that significantly differentiates you from others who are
not yet in Christ.
You see, Jesus died for you and took away
your sins so that you are made righteous in Him. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21) And
because of that, you are now reconciled to God and you can call Heaven your
eternal home. Some of you may say, “I am still living on earth, and the world
is watching me every minute just to catch me fall because I am a Christian with
the ‘Book of Do’s and Don’ts’ (the Bible). But the fact is, I might also make
mistake and sin a little here and there throughout the course of my life on
earth. What then makes me different from my non-believing friends?”
Romans 8:9, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the
Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
There is a whole world of difference
between you and your non-believing friends. You are different because you
have the Spirit of God living in you! Jesus’ finished work on the cross has
made you righteous and reconciled you to God, so that you are made a temple of
the Holy Spirit. Why? So that He can live in you and stay with you! (See 1
Corinthians 6:19)
Jesus said that only you (i.e the believers) can receive the Holy Spirit and know Him.
That’s how Jesus remains with you and does not leave you orphans though He is
with the Father now. Jesus stays with you through His Spirit! (See John
14:17-18) Only you can have the deep assurance
that you are the sons/daughters of God because His Spirit is bearing
witness with your spirit day and night. (See Romans 8:14-17) The Bible is the
best-selling book and it is read by the most number of people in the world, but
only you can understand the truth and the
revelation behind every printed word in the Bible! Why? Because you have
the best personal and tuition teacher in the world living in you, the Holy
Spirit! He will teach you to live the right way and to live the life God has
intended for you, as long as you allow Him. That’s how your heart is not
troubled and you can have the peace of God that is not from this world, even
when the whole world is in chaos, because the Spirit of God lives in you!
(See John 14:26-27)