New Things

Sitting here in my living room, watching the floor guys lay the new wood flooring, got me to thinking, there's something nice about new things. It changes the whole complexity of everything about it and around it. I'm reminded of a verse from the Bible, 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Like the wood floors in my house, a person who comes to the knowledge of Christ just looks different. They not only look different, but they act different, they think differently, everything is brand new for them. A saved person has a look of peace about them, that is until they get into church and start hanging around church folks! Though I say that in jest, unfortunately its undeniably true for too many. I heard a minister say one time, the yoke of America is that Christians walk around with scowls on their faces, lacking joy, and the sinner who looks happy in his sin! I work a secular job, and I can attest to that latter part of that statement, the people I work with, of which 99% are non Christian, are happy being that way. Most are successful and just enjoy life. And the sad thing is, they don't give a thought to eternity or to God at all. Now, I've met my share of Christians who aren't happy, a good number in fact, I understand there may be a number of factors that contribute to that. What does all this have to do with new things though? It has everything to do with it, when something is new, there is a freshness about it that effects its surroundings. Ever hear anyone in a discussion group come up with a fresh idea? It may be something that hasn't been done in a really long time, but its fresh, its new, and that newness, that freshness is incredibly overwhelming! So if things new are tied into things fresh, and those two components affect our joy and overall happiness, then its a necessity to keep things fresh in our lives. The psalmist wrote Ps 92:10 "But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil." Keeping things fresh will keep it relevant. That is what I love about my church, Oasis World Outreach, we have a gifted and anointed staff led by a pastor, who is truly an apostle, though he does not refer to himself as such. (Paul was the same way, not caring for titles). A number of Pastors have come under his leadership and mentoring. But what is really unique is the general spirit within our church, the happiness on the faces of the people, the closeness of our fellowship. Don't get me wrong, we're not without our issues, as every church deals with something, but there is a genuine love and appreciation for one another and especially towards our leaders. I believe this is due to our pastors desire to keep things fresh. A fresh word, recognizing and moving in God's season, which is always fresh, full of life. So to get back to my original thought, theres something about new things, its exciting, and it changes the surroundings of a place. I want to keep it real, keep it fresh, keep it new. And that my friends, is the reality of it!