New Year, New You?
If only changing your life were as simple as a catchphrase. But it doesn’t really work that way. We like to think we can re-invent ourselves, that with a resolution or the flip of the calendar, our problems will be solved and life will finally be manageable. What’s wrong with this?
Much like Carmen, I LOVE January! Each January brings hopes of new beginnings. That calendar-flip really does feel like a sunrise after a deep night. I feel it too. So why, by April, am I back in some of the same situations, the same mindset, that I deliberately tried to change on January 1?
I think there are two challenges in a renovation of life—really, three. First, much like renovating a room or home, you have to do some demolition before the renewal begins. Second, you need a plan. I’ll save the third challenge for later.
Demolition
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
(Ephesians 4:21–22).
The Apostle Paul identifies himself as a “skilled master builder.” He knows stuff about renovation. Here, he tells us that when it comes to our lives, we must “throw off” the old before we can “put on” the new. Now, he’s not talking about throwing away a relationship or a commitment; rather, this renewal happens in your heart. You must be willing to allow the truth of Jesus (taught in Scripture) to uncover your hidden sins—unhealthy desires, self-deceit, hard-hearted grudges—that you have allowed to grow in your life like mold on shower grout.
Light reveals the rottenness in our hearts that must be removed. Invite God’s Spirit to use the truth of Scripture to shine in your heart like a spotlight, revealing sin. Then, invite the Spirit to awaken you to the holiness of God revealed in the person and work of Jesus (Ephesians 4:24). Invite God to re-make you in His image.
The Plan
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds
of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
Ephesians 5:10-11
Here we see that exposing the corruption of sin is tied to building a life that pleases God. We want to build a strong house that is acceptable to God, because God wants to dwell in us by His Spirit. What building blocks have to be in place for such a life, and what blueprint? In this section of Ephesians 4 and 5, the Apostle Paul is giving us wisdom he got from God: With the Lord’s authority I say this (Ephesians 4:17). The Lord’s authority is given in God’s word, applied to our lives by gifted leaders (preachers, teachers, disciple-makers) in a believing community—the church.
The picture Paul paints here is of a strong house, well-built: growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Ephesians 4:15). As we take our place in the life of a local church, we serve a vital function as part of the body of Christ, and we don’t stay the same.
The plan is to grow to maturity in Him. We must pursue that growth individually, but we can never accomplish it alone. That’s why Paul puts spiritual growth in the context of the church.
Jesus
Here, finally, is the third challenge for renovating your life. You aren’t sufficient. You could do all the work and literally get nowhere. Only Jesus—the head of the body (Ephesians 4:15 again)—can supply and direct growth so that new life results. Without Jesus, all your human effort can produce is a decapitated corpse. Devotional efforts without Jesus are dead and powerless.
That’s why it’s so frustrating. We seek spiritual and personal growth through time-management techniques, when what we really need is a timeless Savior. We tell ourselves we need self-discipline, but we really need the discipleship of the Spirit. We try to put new walls on a life of old, rotten foundations. Only Jesus, working by His word and Spirit in a community of believers, can truly bring change, growth, maturity, and renovation.
Does this mean we have no part to play? Not so fast. We must pursue Him, put His word first, be in fellowship with His people, and face the challenges of demolition and planning. Once we are ready, then we give all our efforts to Jesus and seek Him alone as the architect and contractor, the blueprint AND change agent for our souls.
Jesus has already planned and paid for a new you! (See Ephesians 5:2.) Seek him in His word (You could start with Ephesians 4 and 5!), and ask His Spirit to renovate you from the inside out.
Happy New Year!
Bill Martin