Same Fight. New Fighter
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
9/20/20262 min read
Have you ever read that verse and thought, Really? Because I don't feel very new.
You still wrestle with the same temptations. The same worries. The same frustrations. Your kids still don't listen. Your boss is still difficult. There are still more bills than there is money.
That's because being a new creation isn't about instant perfection. It's about a new direction.
When Christ saves us, He begins His work from the inside out. He changes our heart before He changes our habits. He renews our mind before He transforms our circumstances. The old life loses its authority, even though its voice still tries to make itself heard.
I think the expectation is that salvation will remove every struggle. But Jesus never promised that. In fact, He said offenses WILL come. Trials WILL come. Trouble WILL come. Following Jesus doesn't exempt us from life's challenges but it doesn’t give us a new way to walk through them.
The evidence of God's work is often found in our reactions.
Before Christ, maybe your first instinct was anger. Someone disrespected you and you told them off. Someone hurt you and you looked for a way to get even. A problem appeared and anxiety took over. Conflict came and patience left the room.
Now the situation may be exactly the same, but something in you is different. Telling them off is no longer your first reaction. Fighting back isn't your automatic response. Instead, you pause. You pray. You choose your words more carefully. You forgive a little quicker. You trust God a little sooner. Not perfectly. But differently.
That's the new creation at work.
Growth in Christ often happens so gradually that we miss it. We focus on what's still wrong while God is transforming what used to control us. So if you don't feel completely new today, don't be discouraged. Look back and ask yourself: Am I more like Jesus today than I was a year ago?
If the answer is yes, then God is doing exactly what He promised.
And, Beloved, He is not finished yet!