Purging Process Underway

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. (Colossians 3:10)

Paul instructs to 'set our sights', 'think about the things of heaven', and 'put to death sinful deeds', all representing a 'putting off' and 'putting on' type of action. We 'put off' one set of actions while 'putting on' another. Maybe this is where we go so wrong in trying to make lasting change in our lives. We go about the work of 'putting off' but neglect the important work of 'putting on' something God desires in its place. We eat less chocolate, but we don't eat more kale. We stop biting our nails, but don't address the underlying anxiety that causes the nail biting. We cancel subscriptions to streaming services that have distracted us so much, yet we spend no more time in his Word or in Christian fellowship than we did before. It is indeed good to make the change but change without 'replacement' is insufficient.

The 'new nature' is put on in place of the 'old nature'. We are renewed because we put off and allow the right stuff to be put on or put into our lives. All of Paul's focus centers on the learning process - that which will make us like Christ. The sinful man within is to be replaced with the righteousness of Christ. We might struggle less with our common sins if we focused a little less on what we put off and more on what we will put on in its place. Does renewal happen all at once? I have owned my home for over thirty years now and it has gone through several changes over the years. The flooring was replaced - not a small task and one that required furniture to be removed, old flooring to be ripped up, and the new to be laid. It took almost a week to complete the entire process. Change is seldom 'instant' - it involves the removal of the old in order to make way for the new.

I frequently purge my closets as I change seasons, donating those items that still have much usefulness but serve me no usefulness now. It helps to keep my closet from overflowing with items I seldom wear, or which no longer fit as well as they used to. In allowing the 'purging process' to occur, I am allowing 'renewal' of my wardrobe to occur. In much the same manner, there are things in our lives that no longer serve a purpose (at least not a good one). Those need to be purged, allowing space for the new to be added into our lives. Whenever we see God working on an area of our lives where 'purging' is occurring, we also need to ask him what he wants to 'add into' our lives in place of those things we are letting go of at that moment. He will surely reveal some good things that will 'renew' and 'refresh' our lives as we do. Just sayin!