The Truth is the Light
By Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” There comes a time when we should long for the chance to fix what we believe has gone wrong in our lives. We wish for the opportunity to start over, seeking the reassurance that no matter how much we may have messed up that things from now on might be different. Given another opportunity, somehow, this time we’re going to get it right.
One thing is for sure: we all need correction. Truth be told, some of us need more correction than others, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Starting fresh is a good idea for all. We could use a time of reflection when we can take a good look at ourselves in the mirror and ask the Lord to fix our flaws. What one person thinks is a flaw, another person flaunts. That could be because we are not very good at judging ourselves. We tend to see ourselves through rose-colored glasses.
I wonder if there are some among us who are not afraid to stand before God and let Him do the judging. Do we desire to let the Lord purge our soul of all that is displeasing and unrighteous?
I wonder if anyone has given thought to our traits and habits. For example, what if God made a list of the character traits and habits He desired to correct in us? What would God want to remove from us? The truth is that deep inside of all of us are the suppressed sins of a Christian trying hard to get it right every day. That may surprise some folk. However, just because we are all avid churchgoers and committee members does not mean that we are perfect. We would probably not want to share our list with everyone. However, we are all sinners saved by grace. We are striving to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. There are times when we find ourselves frustrated and angry. We get impatient, intolerant, selfish, and a bit self-seeking.
Thank God there is something we can do about all that. We can work to keep ourselves pure and undefiled. We can stay connected to our Savior. We can keep checking our mirror’s reflection to make sure that we are looking more like Him than ourselves.
Our text warns that we must “be in Christ.” We must understand that to be “in Christ” is to be completely enveloped and surrounded by the glory and power of Christ. When we are “in Christ,” we are new creatures. That means the “old self” no longer has power. That old attitude, way of thinking, and dealing with our concerns won’t have a chance to drag us down. Please know that Satan may try! However, Christ has promised that no weapon formed against us shall prosper because we are new creatures in Christ. The preacher in me can’t help but say, “Hallelujah!”
An agricultural reference may be helpful. Imagine that our lives are like a strawberry field. We indend is to produce huge, sweet strawberries; but for some reason, all we seem to be able to do is keep the weeds cut low. Fruit doesn’t appear that often; and when it does, it’s not very good. The reason is that strawberries need good soil. The only way to produce good strawberries is to plow up the whole field and start over with perfect soil and new plants.
That is how it is with us and sin. We have so much difficulty living right because there is bad soil of temptation all around us. Try as we might, we seem only to be able to keep our sins down low and hidden from sight. Living like that will never bear fruit. We must let Christ “plow our field” and let Him replace it with good soil. Christ in us, and our soil, can make all things new. We will be amazed at the fruit we will bear.
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of James Chapel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C.
