When Wiwik and I were married in 2004 we were faced with many difficulties. One was our little house. Some called this type of home a ‘match-box’, but we didn’t care… it was OUR home. However, since I had been divorced… it just didn’t feel like it was OUR HOME. Thus the renovations and changes started. New paint, new molding, walls came down, two rooms became one, one became something else, a bathroom became a closet (mine), a new closet was built (hers), old carpet came up and new title went down, more paint, a window came out and French doors went in and a back porch, and an addition with yet another porch… That’s just on the inside!!! So, what’s the point?
We read in the scriptures that Jesus came to give his life a “ransom” for sinners (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; I Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 9:15). To “ransom” means to pay the price demanded to set someone free. Jesus did this with his for us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8), when we were spiritually “dead” (Ephesians 2:1-4). We belong to Satan before Christ comes into our lives. I repented of my sins and was immersed into Christ (Acts 2:38-39), I was born again (John 3:1-10)… when I was 10 years old. Then and now I was and am His.
Jesus moved in, immersed in water and Spirit (John 3:3-5), forgiven, justified (I Corinthians 6:9-11) and no longer under condemnation (Romans 8)… I became a temple for His Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19), but I needed RENOVATION SO BADLY. You see Jesus came to do all this for everyone, but after He saves an individual, HE CONTINUES TO WORK TO MAKE US, RENOVATE AND CHANGE US into HIS DWELLING PLACE, HIS HOME, HIS TEMPLE!!! We just need to ‘yield’ and let Him work!
A lot of stuff has to go when Jesus comes into a person’s life. Understand, ONLY JESUS AND HIS SPIRIT CAN TRULY CHANGE A PERSON ON THE INSIDE. I had and have a long way to go… so many changes are continually being made… like, “WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?”, “SEEKING REVENGE AND JUSTICE FOR EVERY WRONG DONE TO ME”, “TRYING TO BALANCE THE BOOKS WITH GOD BY KEEPING LAW”, “FORGIVING” and so much more. Everything from the past life that is a reminder that I was Satan’s property… HAS TO GO! No looking back like Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26).
Is the renovating over? No way! There is still much work to be done in my life by His Spirit, and I say, “bring it on, whatever it takes!” You see there is nothing in the old life of serving Satan, that is worth keeping. There is everything to gain in serving Christ and truly becoming HIS HOLY TEMPLE.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:7-10a “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ…”