"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2Corinthians 4:16-18
Luke 5:39
“…no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’” Jesus gives the parable of the un-shrunk cloth and the patch, of the new wine and the old wineskins. He reminds his listeners that the new wine of the kingdom must be put into new wineskins or the fermenting and swelling will burst the old wineskins. He finishes His thought with this intoxicating sentiment, “The old is better.” The embedded truth is a commentary on the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Jesus is pointing to the change from the Old Testament to the New Testament. This shift marks the epicenter of history and spirituality. Only Jesus Christ can accomplish this changeover. The Son of God alone qualifies to bring the heart and mind of men from the old way to the new way. As profound as the shift is I find myself critical of those who are hesitant; stupid unbelieving Pharisees, ridiculous Roman officials how can you fail to embrace the change. Still, they are a part of that crowd, “The old is better.” Those New Testament characters, slow to grasp the transition of covenants, are easy to disparage, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to be about change. The moment I put my faith in Jesus Christ I accept this certainty, things will be different. If things don’t begin to change have I really been born again? But the transformation Jesus Christ brings does not stop the day I put my faith in Him; to be a follower of Jesus Christ means transformation, today. This daily transformation can be subtle, as unnoticeable as a plant growing. Those are the easy days. At any moment Jesus Christ can call us to give up everything we are in that moment to become everything He wants us to be in the future. That kind of change is hard. There is something intoxicating about the things we’ve already known, “The old is better.” Jesus Christ, however, is the ultimate change agent. Nothing and no one can maintain the status quos in His presence. The Jesus way can be a pathway of radical shifts. A new calling can mean a change in location or vocation. His mission and calling can mean ministering in new ways and a complete change of roles and lifestyle. His chosen image is the New Wine of the New Covenant; I may think “The old is better,” but He challenges that supposition everyday! Change is the confirmation of grace. Change is hard, but no one needs it more than me … and Jesus knows it. Whether the transformation is the subtle, daily growth or a major radical shift it is the gracious work of Jesus Christ in our lives. I reject the lie, “The old is better.” I surrender to this explosive truth, I am a new man in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new. I lay down the old habits and attitudes. I celebrate the pathway of radical shifts. I choose to drink the New Wine. I yield to the full impact of His grace in my life! You may not recognize me when you see me. The change may be startling. Alarming conversion and shocking pathways are the corroboration of grace!
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AuthorTim Young is a follower of Jesus Christ. He is married to Sue and is the father of 4 children and 11 grandchildren. Beyond his faith and family Tim is passionate about hiking, backpacking and fitness. He lives in Southwest Missouri in the Ozarks. Archives
January 2020
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