When The Old You Is Not Good Enough! 10-18–26

Welcome to the word for the week. There is that point in life when the old things you have been doing simply do not fit into the new life you should be living. This goes way beyond simply saying your sinful ways. This points back to the scripture that says when I was child I thought and spoke like a child but when I became a man I put away childish things. This is paraphrased intentionally for clarification purposes. There is a point in life when you simply cannot continue on in the old you. There is that moment when you run out of options. This is that moment when you simply do not have a choice but to do right. This is the wakeup point in your life when you finally accept that saying God has been better to you than you have been to Him is a cop out that must stop. If He has been that good to you don’t you think you owe Him better than what you have been giving Him?

This is that moment when you realize you must really examine your heart. This is that moment when you realize you must seriously change your ways. This is that moment when you realize you have to start thinking differently or your own mind will be your downfall in life. This is when you quit pointing that finger at everything and everyone around you and you accept the fact that it is really you who is the problem. This is when you grow up in Christ. This is when you reach that point of maturity. This is when your will gets surrendered to the will of God. This is when you quit fighting against the truth. This is when you accept those tough things about you. This is when it no longer feels good to hear the applause of people when you know for yourself that the good things they say about you are not true. Yes, this is the place where it hurts the most. This is also the place where you truly grow in Christ.

The easiest thing you can do in life is to deny the truth outwardly. You can know it is true in your heart and yet your mouth will insist it is not. You can know for yourself you are wrong and at the same time you can convince others you are right. This is simply called deception. It means you are not being truthful while trying to give the appearance that you are. In plain terms it means you are willing to lie to yourself while knowing the truth at the same time. This is a guaranteed quick way to fall. This is where the enemy wants you. This is where you cannot go to God in truth because you cannot bring the lie with you at the same time. This is when it feels like the walls in your life are closing in. This is when you feel empty inside. This is when you feel like something is missing and no matter what you try nothing seems to work. This is not an accidental feeling. This is exactly how things should go until you wake up to the reality and truth.

Jesus came to set us free. He told us we will know the truth and it will set us free. Repentance is something that is done by free will. You have to choose to go to God and repent. You have to want God to cleanse and restore you. You have to come to your senses the same way the prodigal son did. You have to realize what you are missing out on with God in order to go back to Him. It is not always that a person does not want God that is the problem. It is the cost of walking with Him that sidetracks people at times. The only part of this journey that is free is you saying yes to receive salvation. You are going to go through trials, tribulations, hardships, lonely moments, and wondering where God is after that. That is a fact. Jesus suffered and we must too. Change is not optional, it is mandatory. We do not get to present what we feel like to God. We must present ourselves in the exact manner that He requires and demands. You want Him to move on your behalf but the question is can He count on you to consider and change your ways?

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon