Under New Management

Given April 24, 2007
As I was doing my walking this day and listening to some teaching, the speaker made a comment about getting saved that made me think. When we get saved, our spirit is reborn, right? "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17". But our flesh; our bodies and minds are still the same old mess. We have to, through a conscious effort, begin to remake our flesh and re-train our minds to get in line with our new Spirit. This is not an automatic deal like some people think.

I likened it to someone who buys an old store building. The old tenant is out and the new owner is in but the building doesn't just change because it has a new owner. No, the owner has to decide on a plan to fix the place up. He has to repair any damage, apply some fresh paint, add updated equipment, and maybe even change the type of structure it formerly was. How ridiculous it would be to expect the outside to change just because the inside has a new owner.

When we get saved, we're under new management inside but we have to work on changing the outside and the things that come out of us. The goal should be to strengthen the Spirit within until it takes over and controls the old flesh. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:13". Then we'll be victorious on a regular basis.