Upgrades

"But I must upgrade my computer. It has been almost 9 months since the last time I added anything really neat!"

A reality of the computer industry is that technologies are in constant change. It seems that as soon as we buy something it is obsolete and needs to be replaced by something faster, larger, or more complex. As I sit here in front of my "old" DOS based 386, I wonder how much longer I will be able to survive before time has rendered my computer setup completely useless and I will be "forced" to replace everything. (I hear there is something out there called Windows that is really neat that I might want to try!) But even as we clamor for the new, the exciting, the latest and greatest, we always place limitations on the how much change we will accept in one dose:

Yes, I want that new release of my Word Processor, but don't make me learn any new commands or menu items.

Of course I want that larger disk drive, but don't make me back up my old one and transfer all the data and disrupt my life that much.

If its not "Plug and Play," then I won't pay. We continue this constant search to replace the old with the new, but with as little discomfort to our old life as possible.

"...since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices." Colossians 3:9

God must also deal with this same issue as He seeks to work in our lives. We call out to Him for help and salvation, which He willingly provides, but when He begins to make changes in our lives, we suddenly balk at what He is trying to do.

Yes, I want that new Spirit of forgiveness and humility, but all my friends think my biting sarcasm is humorous and entertaining.

Of course I want a larger capacity to love, but I really don't want to I deal with those that are unlovely.

Yes, I desire to let Your love show in my relationship with my spouse, but do You realize the amount of time and sacrifice that will take?

We continue on and on, "Upgrade me O, Lord, but let me keep all my old ways as well...." We seek a cumulative salvation experience asking God to add more and more good things to our same old spirit until it looks acceptable to Him and to the outside world. But God's way is different...

"For if any man be in Christ, He is a New Creature. Old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

A New Creature. A completely new being. Something that has never existed before. Not an upgrade to an old system. Not a new chip in an old chassis. No, what God does in our lives, is create a brand new being. Something that we cannot even imagine, or expect, or plan for ourselves.

Let's quit praying our new prayers: "Upgrade me, Oh Lord." And replace that with an old prayer:

"Create in me a clean heart, O Lord." Psalms 51:1

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Contributed by Ellis Bush (All Rights Reserved) 74357.246@compuserve.com