Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Off With the Old....On With the New

(New shoes.......Old shoes)

"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


We have officially been in the new millennium for several years now. The computer age. The fast age. The intelligent age. Every area of our lives has become so dependent on computers now. Have you ever thought about what would happen if something should permanently shut down all the computers? So many things completely depend on computers to do their "thinking", that if they should crash, whole industries would shut down. The world as we know it would cease. Could we go back to Grandpa's era? Maybe not comfortably, but we could adjust. Could we go back to a slower lifestyle after being so used to the hustle and bustle of our lives now?

Many folks are constantly getting the latest edition of everything. They want the most modern house, modern furniture, gadgets that will do whatever they are programmed to do, the latest clothes, the latest hairstyle, or the latest model car. I'm not against any of the above unless something of value is tossed aside just because it is no longer in style. We need to remember the value of old things in this modern day and time, too. Things such as antique homes, furniture or cars. Things like keepsakes from the past. And most of all, the value of old friends. Who can put a price on a friend who has been there through thick and thin and still loves you?

And there's our heritage...our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents.... the ones who have molded our lives and made us what we are. New things are great and exciting but should only be blended with, and not take the place of, the old.

I have a wonderful Friend who is older than time itself yet He is new every day. His name is Jesus and I know most of you know Him, too. He was in the past, He's in the present, and He will be in the future. We need only to depend wholly on Him for our security. So if you're planning to "put off the old and put on the new" when the new year rolls around in a few days, please plan to only put off the old things that are holding you back and not anything that you would regret throwing away.

And when you "put on the new", just look at it first to see if it is really becoming to you...whether it is new clothing or a new habit or trend. Truly these are exciting days. We don't know what lies around the corner but we can rest assured that the Lord Jesus Christ will be anywhere His children are.

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the OLD paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are NEW every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Happy New Year!

Marilyn

4 comments:

Leah Adams said...

Wonderful thoughts, Marilyn, as we approach a new year. I have spent a fair amount of time this weekend pondering the things of 2008--what I learned, where I was found lacking, where I did well, how I served the Lord and so many other things.

I so want 2009 to be a year that finds me impassioned and emboldened for our Lord.

Happy New Year!

Leah

Joyful said...

Couldn't help but think of the saying, "Make new friends, but keep the old, One is silver, the other gold."

Trusting God with the 'new' that lies ahead. Like the shoes pictured here, sometimes 'new' can hurt and pinch for awhile as we become accustomed to the fit and make the necessary adjustments, but it's all for our good and His glory.

Happy New Year to you too,
Love & prayers,
Joy

Cathryn said...

Oh Marilyn ~ I really really enjoy your posts ~ ALOT. This one is very good ~ like the others I have read. I was encouraged and I want to thank you for that. Thanks for taking the time to write it ~ it was a blessing. Cathryn

Cindy said...

Well said Marilyn.

Happy New Year,

Cindy