I look back just over a month ago, when we signed a few papers and handed a check to the lawyer. A purchase was made, and the keys were handed over to us. Now we are renovating the building. Why renovate? We want to clean up a few areas and more importantly prepare the building to allow us to do greater things.
Our hopes and prayers are that in the near future, we will add on and have a completed project, a new addition. That is very encouraging and I hope you are excited too!
In a similar fashion, we are like the building project above. I Timothy 2:5-6 says, For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity-the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.”
Jesus Christ purchased our freedom from sin! Just as we purchased a building and are moving in, Jesus purchased our freedom. When we hand him the keys to our body, that is, when we surrender our lives and place our faith in Him, Jesus takes the keys to our life and moves in! (See Ephesians 1:14)
Ephesians 2:19-22 says, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”
Now that Jesus has purchased our lives and has the keys, His Spirit moves in and begins a cleaning and renovating process! Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
His renovation is a transformation, changing the old to new, making us different than before! Paul said in Galatians 6:15, “It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.” Paul was helping us understand that what we do (actions and behaviors) is okay, but what really matters is the transformation that is taking place on the inside!
As a NEW person in Jesus Christ, purchased & being renovated (renewed/transformed), I’m being made ready to live and serve my living Savior now and tomorrow.
God’s renovation in our life is incredible. We look forward to the day when we are in His presence and He gives us a whole new resurrected body. In the same way, we look forward to a day when we are worshiping in a new building.
The purchase has been made. The renovation is in process. The new building is to come. Spiritually speaking, have you handed Jesus the keys to your life? Are you daily allowing God to renovate your life? If not, why not? He is the master designer, creator, Lord of All.
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday,
Pastor Rex