Renewal
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:20-22–ESV)
Think back to the analogy of those people who drive the tire repair trucks on the big city highways. After they reinflated the tires on those cars they pulled out their brochures and pointed the traveler toward the right road. “See this path here? That is how you can get back again to the right road.”
Paul says they were taught how to be renewed. They were given the right insight, right ways to think. They were told how to pick up the cloak of a new self, new direction. Emblazoned on the back of that leather jacket were the logos of righteousness and holiness.
When we volunteered with Samaritan’s Purse the leaders with whom we met at the beginning of the day coached us to live a certain way. We were to be respectful, helpful, representatives of the bigger, Christ-work, of caring for the needy. In some manner they were saying, “If you wear this shirt, live this style.”
The coat the Ephesian Christians were wearing had the mark of Christ on it. The helmet on their head had a visor to protect them from the evil of the world. Look through this visor and you will see rightly, see well. You will not get spiritual bugs in your face that blind you to the right way.
I like to watch baseball but never played. Once when acting as a catcher during some practices for my kids I learned something. If the ball falls in front of the plate it hits the dirt. Guess where the dirt goes? In the catcher’s eyes. That is annoying and can impact the game. If you cannot see what is going on runners will advance; you will lose good opportunities.
When you have the mark of Christ on your heart you are to live renewed. The thing is you can put your visor up. For a short time you will be fine, but when things speed up, when baseballs inevitably hit the dirt the visorless life will put everything at risk.
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