A group of barbers devised a graphic means of demonstrating the effectiveness of their profession. They found a social neglect with long, dirty hair. His face was unshaven and his clothes were ragged and filthy. His body reeked with odor from cheap alcohol and filth.
The barbers went to work and cleaned him up. They gave him a bath, shampoo, shave, haircut and a manicure. They liberally sprinkled talcum powder on him and added spicy cologne. He was dressed in a new suit and was presented before the on looking crowd as a changed man. He certainly looked the part.
However, within a week the man was back in the gutter, back in his former pattern of living. The barbers altered his appearance, but their services had not changed his inward nature.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; and new life has begun!”
The bible says that we who are in Christ have been made new. We have not been refurbished repaired or remodeled, we have been made new. It means we have no affiliation with the old at all, we have begun life a new under a new master and with a new nature, it’s a whole new experience!
Unlike the barber in our story, our outward may initially look the same but we are completely new on the inside and soon enough you begin to see the change on the outside because what is on the inside determines what the outside looks like.
We see life from new eyes our likes and dislikes all change, our speech and attitudes and everything about us changes. We are made new!
Colossians 2:6-7
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him, let your roots grow down into Him and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.
In order to remain new, you and I must continue to follow Him. You cannot follow someone unless you can see them. That means being a student of His word. When we do that then we will develop deep roots in Him and our lives will be built on Christ the solid rock! We will grow strong in the truth and as you know, the truth sets us free meaning we will live in freedom and the automatic result of that is that our hearts will overflow with thanksgiving to our God!
So, are you repaired or have you been made new?
Anyone can spend a bit of money and put a man in a new suit, but it takes being clothed with the Spirit of the Lord to put a new man in that suit!
Reflective Thoughts
Romans 8:1 Says that there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Are there areas of your past that you still feel condemned about? What should your response be according to this verse?
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Romans 6:2 says that we have died to sin, what does that mean to you?
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Philippians 4:2 tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. How does this relate to the new man?
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