All Things New!

Read II Corinthians 4:1 - 6:2

Pastor Sim Fulcher

We had just installed an above-the-ground swimming pool in our large backyard in Louisville,
Kentucky. Our eight-year-old granddaughter, who was visiting, really took to our pool. She
loved it. It was as if she had never been in a pool before. I was curious. You see, she had a pool
at her home. It was an in-the-ground pool. It held more water. It had a deep end with a diving
board. It was heated. It was nicer looking than our pool, yet she said she liked ours better than
hers. “Why?” I asked her. Her answer was simple, “Your pool is new!”

There’s something about “new.” It’s fresh. It’s bright. It’s clean. It promises a future. That one
little word is why this passage contains my favorite New Testament verse, II Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation; the old has passed away. Look, all
things are becoming new!”

You see, I was scared to death of being converted - whatever that was. I knew people who had
been “converted.” Some of them carried around big Bibles. Yuck! They didn’t do things that I
thought were fun, and some put on a sort of “holy air.” Become one of them? No way! I was
religious enough. I had been baptized and brought up in Sunday School and church. When I
had joined the church I even memorized some of the Bible. I said a prayer every night when
I went to bed. I felt it was important to get close to God, at least enough so that he would
know I was on His side. I might need that, if not in this life, in the life to come. I was basically a
good person (except on Halloween). I behaved at school and at home. But become a religious
freak? Give up control of my life to someone else? No thank you! Though I didn’t want to
admit it, I was confused. What was a Christian, anyway? Could you be Christian without being
converted? I sure hoped so.

Then one day I met a Christian man who was active in church. His name was Andy. Andy was
different, but likeable. He didn’t carry around a big Bible, and he enjoyed life. He was wise and
I wanted to be like him. He led a class at church in which he talked about what made his life
tick. He spoke about getting to know the Jesus of the Bible. He pointed out who Jesus really
was and that he was alive and among us. Soon I wanted Jesus to be my friend the way he was
Andy’s. I was scared the night I prayed,” Jesus, my life is open to you. Come in and do with me
whatever you want. I want you to be my friend.” Nothing happened for weeks. Then, one day
while driving in my car I realized a new sense of joy and appreciation for God’s creation that I
had never had before. I felt I had been born again and everything had become new. Praise
the Lord!
 DAY 92

P R AY E R
Jesus, come into my life. My heart is open to you. Do with me what you want. Forgive my sins.
Be my friend. In your name I pray. Amen.

QUESTIONS
Have you been born again? How do you know?

To make sure of your relationship with Jesus, pray the simple prayer above and then share the
news with a Christian friend.

MY REFLECTIONS
Does any particular verse (SCRIPTURE) in today’s reading speak to you?

OBSERVE what this verse is saying to you:

How can you APPLY this verse to your life today?

My PRAYER for today is: