Living faith: become a new creation!

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. … This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.” Isaiah 43:18-19,21.

From death to life

Many people cannot get completely free from their past. The devil, the prince of darkness, who also bears the terrible name “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10), always tries to rivet our eyes on things that cause discouragement, even despair. However, if we have asked Jesus to forgive us our sins and have brought our life into order where it concerns other people and where we have had a bad conscience, then we can turn our back on the powers of darkness for all time. Christ has redeemed us with His precious blood from all manner of sin—be it great or small.

The devil will attempt to drag up what Jesus has cast into the sea of forgetfulness; but we can resist him, steadfast in the faith, and he will flee from us. (James 4:7.) Through faith we have been translated forever from darkness to light, from death to life, and from Satan's power to God.

A future of light and life

Having been set free from sin, we have become servants of God. Then we have our fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (Romans 6:22.) Everything that is new and good can spring forth in this redemption process from sin, and only then will we experience it. Living rivers are now flowing through fertile fields where we formerly lived a desert life. We will truly experience it to our own, as well as to other people's, joy and happiness. We are being molded to declare the praises of the Lord! May all our interests and all our thoughts be in this new thing.

We have a glorious future ahead of us in Christ – a future of light and life, of rest and thankfulness, of joy and peace.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14: “… one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul's goal was the victory prize, and no one can give expression to the full meaning of this victory prize. (1 Corinthians 2:9.) Paul exhorts those who are young: “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22.

May nothing of the old life be a hindrance or a constant bother to us. “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. The virtues of Christ encompass everything that is new, and should it not spring forth now as never before? Then we will be a blessing with joy and peace and a living hope for ourselves, though there might be ever so much unrest and anxiety around us. All of heaven is on our side.

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Revelation 3:12-13; Revelation 21:2.

This is an edited version of an article that was first published in Norwegian in BCCs periodical “Skjulte Skatter” (“Hidden Treasures”) under the title “The Old and the New” in January, 1984.
© Copyright Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag