Monday, September 21, 2015

Seeing Life from a Christian Perspective

Somebody says, “A new day signifies a new beginning; don't sit there and let that opportunity pass you by. Accept each new day and decide to make it better than yesterday. Because yesterday doesn't matter as much as today does. Focus on the day ahead and make it a day to remember and not a day to regret.”

Having a new life in Christ is an ongoing, daily process of examination, decision and confirmation of our relationship with Jesus, as Lord and Saviour. In this manner, having a view of life from a Christian perspective must become a priority to ensure that all aspects of our lives will be drawing from a real Christian significance. Thus everything else follows appropriately. Billy Graham strongly emphasized, “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.

First, the new life devoted to Christ should be dedicated to Christ by reciprocating His love for us. Thus, let us not say one thing and act another way by living according to the world’s standard making our profession of faith worthless. Next, it is a new life that continually experiences renewal that acts upon a new set of godly principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in the new company of people. Thus, the life turned over to Christ is created afresh; the heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given to him or her. The individual becomes a new workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus to do God’s purposes.

What is evidence of a genuine transformation? There is a definite proof of a changed character and a changed conduct towards a view of who God is. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:14-15). Another manifestation is a changed character and a changed conduct towards dealing with other people. “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-15). Another manifestation is a changed character and a changed conduct towards view of living out the Christian life: “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Ian L. Wilson shared about a London businessman Lindsay Clegg regarding a warehouse property he was selling: The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. "Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."

Remember that our continuing efforts to improve our lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we turn over our life to God's hand, the old life is over: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT). God wants to make all things new in your life and the permission to build His plans and purposes as well. If and when we decide to do so, God is waiting for us, and this is the reason Jesus came, so we can come freely to Him without any fear. Try Jesus and your life will experience new things.

Let’s talk again!