Unrecognizable

 

By Andrea Merrell

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.

The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Normally, I’m the one who has a hard time recognizing people I haven’t seen in a long time, but this time the proverbial shoe was on the other foot.

I spotted her and immediately knew who she was. This lady was someone I hadn’t seen since high school (many, many moons ago), and she still looked exactly the same. But she walked right past me—even after I said hello and tried to initiate a conversation. She had no clue.

I thought about it a lot afterward. Did I really look that different? Had I really changed that much?

The answer was a resounding YES!

The Bible says that when we are in Christ, we become new creations—an entirely new person. The AMP Classic Edition puts it like this:

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Fresh and new. I love those two very descriptive words when I think about the changes God has made in my life. With the exception of a few extra pounds and wrinkles and my now silvery white hair, I don't think I look all that different on the outside, but when I look back at the old me (on the inside), I can barely recognize her.

God changes us from the inside/out and makes all things new as we surrender ourselves to Him. If the old you is unrecognizable, thank God for the new person He is conforming into the image of His Son.

Photo by Elisa Photography on Unsplash