New Creation

“The old has gone. The new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Human beings, compared to other living things, have the unique ability to remember and learn from the past.

Time tells all. We can see how our decisions and the decisions of others have impacted where we are today. For better or worse.

The ability to see how decisions in the past have impacted the present also gives us the ability to see how our present decisions will impact the future.

The future is uncertain.

But we know that the decisions made today will impact the world we wake up in tomorrow. That is certain.

The decisions we make this year will impact what kind of year we have. That is certain.

We can’t control the world.

But we can control our decisions.

Our decisions impact our world more than we might think.

Every year I make New Year’s resolutions.

Resolutions for making better decisions. Resolutions that will improve my life and the lives of those around me.

Every year I fail to follow through.

This year will be no different.

I will make resolutions towards becoming the best me I can be.

And I will let myself and those around me down.

Then comes a new day.

A new day to try again.

A new day to fall short.

A new year to try again.

A new year to fall short.

Why bother?

Because I can do better.

If I can do better today to make a better tomorrow, why not try?

If the world around me can be better by making myself better, why not try?

We’ll never get there.

What little progress we do make will be slow with setbacks.

But every step in the right direction is a step in the right direction.

In a world trying to pull us in different directions, the challenge is making sure our steps are aimed the right way.

John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way.”

The disciples took steps of faith when deciding to follow Jesus.

They didn’t know where he would lead them.

They didn’t instantly have all the answers.

Their lives didn’t get any easier.

Jesus led them down a hard road.

They kept following.

Although they continued to mess up along the way, their lives changed along the way.

They found new life along the way.

Their new lives changed the world.

Their new lives are still changing the world.

Not because they finally stuck with their New Year’s resolutions.

Because they followed The Way and became new in Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone. The new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17