Throw Out The Junk
Throw Out The Junk
February 10, 2008 – Senior’s Home
2 Corinthians 5:16-18; 21
So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Just think, Dad—we get to stay up till two o'clock!" Steve exclaimed as he told his dad about the New Year's Eve party his Sunday school class would be having.
"Sounds great," Dad said. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he added, "Have I ever told you about the New Year's Eve celebrations we had when I was a boy back in Italy?"
"Did you have a parade or something?" he asked.
"Yes, and fireworks, too," Dad said. "But what happened later that night was the most interesting part of the whole celebration. As midnight approached, people gathered up all their trash, old clothing, boxes, and whatever else they wanted to get rid of. There was a New Year's Eve custom of `throwing out the old to make way for the new,' so they simply tossed it all out the windows."
"I'd sure hate to be the street cleaner the next day," laughed Steve.
Dad began to look thoughtful. "I think that we, as Christians, could learn a lesson from that strange custom," he said. "The Bible says 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' But we sometimes try to `put on' Christian habits—prayer, attending church, witnessing—without `putting off' our sinful habits. God cannot bless us and help us to grow until we get rid of the `old junk' in our lives."
Steve looked thoughtful. "I think you're telling me that even though I've made a resolution to get better grades, God won't help me do it unless I first `throw out' my sin of laziness."
"Exactly." Dad smiled. "Let's both make a list of some of the `junk' we need to get rid of."
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you sometimes wonder why it's so hard to do the right things, to form good habits, or to grow as a Christian? Perhaps there's some "junk" in your life that needs to be thrown out. It might be something like a record collection that is not pleasing to God, immodest clothing, or questionable books and magazines. It might be cigarettes or drugs. Or maybe it's a sin like anger or envy. Whatever it is, get rid of it. God will give you something new and much better to take its place.
