This is the time of the year when things are renewed. When one looks out the window he can see many things that are renewing themselves. The grass is beginning to turn green and in many cases the grass has already been cut once or twice. The flowers are beginning to come forth from their wintry grave. The trees are budding and blooming. They are turning their beautiful color of green. God has done such a wonderful job in creating all of these items. We ought to praise God for all of the renewal that is going on. The birds are chirping anew with life and it will not be long before there is the chirping of little birdies. The days are getting much longer and it is beautiful outside. The time to renew the garden is really past, it is now time to plant and see the garden put forth its buds and then its fruit so that we can enjoy all the fruits of our labors.
What about our spiritual life are we renewing ourselves? Paul moved by the Holy Spirit wrote, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). During the time of the year when the physical world is renewing herself are we renewing ourselves? Are our hearts and minds turning toward renewing the inter man? Are we concerned with the spiritual part of our being? Now may be the time for us to consider our spiritual nature. It is the time of refreshing! Listen to what Peter said and Luke recorded, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Remember also what Paul by inspiration wrote, “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). When a person is in the position of being “in Christ” then he is a “new creature and old things are passed away.” When one is a “new creature” he is a “newborn.” This is what Jesus was talking about with Nicodemus, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8). For one to be a new creature he must then undergo the new birth. He is therefore a new born babe in Christ. He has renewed his spiritual man, and he must and ought to renew that man day by day.
Just being baptized is not all that is required for the new birth. The seed must be planted into the heart. Peter wrote by inspiration, “Being born again, not of corruptible see, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23). The seed is the word of God (This passage and Luke 8:11 stated this very plainly). The seed must be planted into the ground which is the human heart. The Word of God must be taught or preached to others to plant that seed into their hearts. Then it depends upon the condition of that heart as to what happens to the seed. The seed can germinate and take root. The seed can rot and decay. The seed can be choked out by the things of the life. The cares and concerns of this life can be overwhelming and choke the Word of God out of some hearts. Also during the time of temptation some can neglect the Word of God that it cannot and will not grow. These are sad conditions but they are true conditions. These events happen each and every day. But to the person who desires to be “in Christ” the seed will grow. This growth of the seed planted into the heart of man will grow and lead that person to repentance. This person will no longer want to serve sin, or the devil! They will turn from all the sins that they have committed and want them to be gone from their life. Doing this will lead one to confess that Jesus is now Lord of their life. He is now their Master. They will serve Him with all of the mind, soul and body. Now they are ready to be born again. They are now ready for the spiritual renewal. They are not ready to be baptized into Christ. This event just like the renewal of the world outside when it is renewed is a wonderful event. If you have not been baptized for the remission of sins, what is hindering you? Now is the time before it is ever lasting too late.
But that is not the end of the story. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning! We can have these wonderful blessings by being “in Him” and by remaining “in Him.” This is what John was talking about in Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” If we will be faithful then the mercies of the Lord can be new every morning in our lives! Yet there is something we must do. We must be faithful. To know of these mercies we must study the Word of God to know them. That way we know the blessings of God. Not only must one study to find the mercies of God but one must pray. We all know that 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” You see God’s communication with us is His Word. Our communication with God is by our prayers. Our prayers must be on a continuous basis. We cannot fail to pray. We cannot cease to pray. We cannot stop communicating with God. Let us be renewed day by day.
Love, Keith
