The Old Life and the New

Perhaps in your life, you may have been in a situation where you had to go without sleep for many more hours than usual. Maybe you had to do it as a young parent, in a crisis or for a particular line of work. In your sleep-deprived state, you can’t think as clearly, you can’t perceive your surroundings clearly and even your balance and coordination is impaired. In a way, it’s like putting on those “drunk goggles” or even stumbling around in the dark.

This is how Paul describes how we see or perceive the true nature of the world without the light of Christ in our lives. He says that those without Christ have minds that are stuck in the dark, unable to get a hold of truth since the walls of their hearts and minds have been hardened towards God (Ephesians 4:17-19).

I know that when I spend too much time away from prayer and Scripture, I start to sense the influence of the world. When I am taking in more of the world — in my thoughts and to what I pay attention and read and so on — I start to sense the world’s noise dulling my spiritual acuity. It’s like when I’m sleep deprived, so my spiritual perception and discernment is less clear.

Instead, this is what Paul calls us to do: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:21-24, NLT)

This is our new identity in Christ that has been won and established for us in the Gospel of Christ! Maybe you’re already there today, maybe you’re not. Wherever you are, let’s blow off the cobwebs of the world, and put on that new nature and new life that Jesus gave us. Let it be so, dear Lord, Amen.