New Reality

Gal.2:²⁰ (KJV) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Rom.12:² “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind [your person] is changed.” (Phillips, paraphrased, emphasis added). The Lord wants to make you up. God wants to put you into His mould such that the world would not be able to recognize you. When people look at you, the only conclusion would be, he or she has been with Jesus. I remember being a little bit troublesome at home. So, when I gave my life to Jesus, I did not want to tell anyone. I felt that if they found out that I was now born again, they would take me for granted. And the respect I used to have in the house would diminish. So, I kept it to myself and did not tell anyone. I came back home during a school break and after a week or so, I overheard my mum telling my brother, “Femi has changed.” I was pained.

How did they find out? I find it very strange to see people who claim that they have experienced resurrection power, but their person is not changed. The resurrection power changes your person so much, that you become unrecognizable. Take the example of Paul, for instance, he became an entirely new man. This is what the Bible means in 2 Cor. 5:¹⁷ “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (NKJV]. When I share some stories of my past with people, they are surprised that I used to do all such things. I used to fight using a cutlass or a bottle as my weapon. I loved playing football and I used to play for almost twenty-four hours a day. When you win a match in some neighbourhoods, you need to fight to come out alive when such football matches go bad. I was a very angry and very violent person. But thank God that old things are passed away.

To the glory of God, the things I used to do, I do them no more. The fights I used to fight; I fight them no more. The places I used to go; I go there no more. There is a great change since I am born again. Not once have I ever said, “If I… if not that I am born again!” Now if you are doing life with people, you know that there are no perfect relationships, right? There will be occasions, things that will push every emotion in you. But the things I used to do, I do them no more. The fights I used to fight; I fight them no more. There is a great change since I am born again.

What I am saying is, God wants to take your greatest weakness and turn it into a strength. Today, I can fight spiritually; trust me, you do not want to cross that path. And when I fight, I fight! But it is a virtue that God converted. For Moses, it was temper but God converted it. For Abraham, it was worry but God converted it. For Peter, it was being too forward, but God converted it. For Gideon, it was fear, but God converted it. The point is, you do not have to remain the same. The resurrection power is the power to cancel your past and it is the power to change your person.

Prayer: Father, I lay down my weaknesses and I ask that You remake me. I open my life to the resurrection power to cancel my past and change my person, in Jesus Name. Amen!