So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:16-17

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The text messages went back and forth between the five of us old college friends. We hadn’t all been together since we graduated more than 20 years ago, but here we were, planning a reunion. As the weekend approached, I was wavering between excitement and trepidation. Surely, all of us have changed quite a bit since those days in our sorority house. But for me, I haven’t just changed—Jesus transformed my life. 

Today’s Scripture says that “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Do you believe it? I do. But the fact is, sometimes I believe it more strongly than other times. Maybe you do, too?

Planning this reunion made me realize I had avoided heading back to the place where I had a little too much fun—if you catch my drift. You see, the young woman who walked that campus so long ago had made a lot of terrible decisions. She was so lost and unsure of herself. She had no idea how much she was worth and how much her God loved her like no one else in this world ever would. And now, more than 20 years later, I was confronted with her again in a fresh way. I had a choice to make: walk into that weekend and allow the residual shame of my past to overshadow all that God has done in my life, or embrace the truth (again) that I am a new creation in Christ and my former ways do not define me.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Could it be that if God uses all things according to His purpose, He can use even the things we did and the people we were before we knew Him for His purposes? I think so. The girl who spent those four years having a blast covering up the deep longings of her heart that only God could fulfill is the same girl who now has a heart of compassion for those seeking everything but God to fill the void in their hearts. That girl made a lot of mistakes. But today, as I lift my eyes to Jesus, she serves me well in reminding me of the miracle Jesus has done in my life. As a new creation,  I am not defined by my past, but I sure am served by it. And you can be, too. 

Next Steps

Take time today to read the following passages of Scripture and pray through them. Let the truth of who God says you are, wash over you. 

Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”