Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
— Colossians 3:9-10 (NKJ)
Last week we talked about how we have to put off the “old” nature and put on the “new” nature because we have been transformed. We are not who we used to be and we have to learn to walk in that new nature. By renewing our minds through God’s word, we find out who we are as a new creation and we have to put that on.
I like to use the example of a person living an ordinary life who finds out that his uncle whom he never knew died and left everything he had to him, his nephew. This uncle ruled a small country far away. Now the nephew has become the ruler, but he knows nothing about his new role. He has to read up on the country and the protocol of that area as well as what is required of him. Most likely, even after he goes to live in the palace, he has to remind himself of who he now is. He must put off the former, ordinary way of life and step into the new person.
That is what we are asked to do – put off the former person with old habits and patterns and step into the new person – the overcomer, the victorious, the kind, the loving, the joyful, the faithful, the patient, the gentle, etc. You have what you need. All you have to do is believe in your heart that these traits are the real you and step into them. God does not lie.
This is a different way of thinking because no longer are you trying to change. What freedom this brings to understand that you already are the person you want to be. Just because we don’t always act like the new person need not discourage us. All we have to do is remind ourselves of who we really are. Then admit we made a mistake, slipped into an old way of thinking and behaving, and send it away – put it off and put on who we really are.
As I’ve said before, a caterpillar does not work to become a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar simply sheds his encasement and transforms into a lovely new creature called a butterfly. That is what happens to us when we accept salvation. We are transformed into a new person.
We walk successfully as this new person when we find out from the Bible who Jesus says we now are. As you read the the word, look for descriptions of who you now are and write them down. Then you must believe – actually believe in your heart – that you are who the word says you are.
“It is not living for Him but from Him”
Throw Off The Old