A little change of perspective is a good thing

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NLT)

It is indeed good news that our 'old life' is no longer in control of our daily activities, isn't it? No longer living for ourselves, but living for Christ Jesus, the very one who gave his life for us. The one thing that happens when we live this 'exchanged life' that we often don't recognize is how it changes our view of everyone else around us. We don't see them the same because we are viewing them through the eyes of Christ. We no longer simply view life in 'human terms' - there is a new 'vision' that comes into play. It is that we no longer just see Christ as a 'good man' - we see him as our Savior, our King, and our Lord. 

What does this change in 'seeing' actually do within us? In the simplest of terms, it changes how we view our own choices for how we will act or what we will 'do'. We begin to see there is a different way of choosing - one that is actually better than the old way we used to choose our actions. We might still have those 'old ways' present themselves from time to time, but the closer we get to Jesus, the more we will find our desires change - therefore, our choices begin to change. We see ourselves differently - no longer trying to control what we should not do and choosing rather to allow Christ to help us do what we should do.

Anyone who belongs to Christ (having asked him to be their Lord and Savior) is now living a new life as a new person. We still 'exist' in our same bodies, but our minds begin to change - we begin to 'see' life from a different vantage point. What once entertained us might change. What once drew us in or appealed to our senses might no longer have that much appeal. Until you have said yes to Jesus, your view of life was based on whatever it was that brought you a thrill, appealed to your senses, or fulfilled some inner longing. If it didn't fit into those categories, you didn't really get drawn to those things.

Now that you are living an 'exchanged life', you might just find that the things that 'draw you in' are a bit more 'spiritual' in nature. They aren't as superficial as the things you used to pursue. They actually create a depth in you as you begin to allow a depth in your relationship with Jesus to grow. Your 'human point of view' is no longer the only 'vision' you have - you have his insight and his wisdom. You may not understand 'how' Jesus transforms your life, but you certainly can enjoy the change in perspective it gives you! Just sayin!