Letting Go

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossian 3:5-11

As I read and study on this passage of scripture, I'm reminded of the words to the song "The Change" written by Steven Curtis Chapman. It speaks of how, now that we are believers, we have all these "things" that we show to say what we believe (t-shirts that say what we believe, Bible magnets, bumper stickers, etc), but what about the change that must take place within us? What about our heart... has it changed? As the chorus of the song states,

"What about the change

What about the difference

What about the grace

What about forgiveness

What about a life thats showing

I'm undergoing the change"

In previous scriptures in Colossians, Paul speaks of being "hidden" in Christ and of being "rooted and built up" in Christ. If these things are true, there will be a real change in our lives. We will put aside those things that are earthly -- impurities, evil desires, greed.

As Christians, we are called to live a life that shows we are new creatures. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

We need to live our lives in such a way that it is evident to all that we are new creations in Christ. We must turn away from the earthly and focus on the heavenly.

What a difference it will make if we take the time each and every day to be more aware of where our focus truly lies. What a change we will really see take place when we take the time to actively pray and seek to live our lives focused on heaven, pushing aside the things and the priorities of this earth.

Over the last year of so I have been on a journey -- a journey of seeking the Lord's guidance in letting go of so much that overwhelms me in the "day to day" of life and to focus more on what is important in His eyes. As I have seen a change in my life and my family's lives over the last year, it is so "freeing" and so refreshing.

It is the same with letting go of all the things Paul highlights in this passage of scripture. The lies, the greed, the impurities -- they do not give us freedoms and they do not make life any easier. In truth, they make life more difficult than it has to be... and there is a price.

The world tells us that life as a Christian is full of restrictions and difficulties. I believe the restrictions and difficulties are found in the things of this earth. True freedom is found in the Lord. Sure, life is not always going to be easy and at times it will be difficult. But, with God, we don't have to be tied to those difficulties... we have a hope and a peace that only He can provide.