“The New Creation” Day 7: Put off things of darkness.
The children of Israel had been in bondage for several generations. In fact, there wouldn’t have been any one living who remembered not being in bondage, when Moses arrived on the scene, saying, “Let My people go.” Having known only bondage for all that time, even after they were liberated, set free to go into the desert, even after the Lord had promised that they would have an inheritance in a pleasant land, they were still steeped in the traditions, the ways of being and doing, and even in the worship of foreign gods, common in Egypt at that time.
In fact, we are told that the Lord had Moses take them in a different way than would have been the shortest route to where they were going, when they first came out of Egypt. The reason for the Lord doing this, was that the people were not yet ready to face conflict. It would take time for the people to learn to depend on the Lord. It would take time for them to walk as free people, people ready to walk into their inheritance.
“So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17-18 AMP
Indeed, the children of Israel had come out of Egypt, but it would take time for Egypt to come out of the children of Israel. And—as we know—because of their failure to believe, it would be a grueling 40-year process.
Now, what does this have to do with being a new creation through Jesus Christ? Well, as we have discussed (see “Day 3”), the word of God clearly states that we were all once in bondage to sin.
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”
Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT
Now, through Jesus Christ, we have been set free from the law of sin and death, so that we may now be inhabited by the Holy Spirit of God. In fact, it is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to grow into the image of Jesus Christ. Yes, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are made alive to righteousness, and can walk (operate), as He walked.
“Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’ ” But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).”
John 7:37-39 AMP
However, although we have been set free from bondage through the work of Jesus Christ, like the children of Israel, we still have the “residue” of the world, the flesh, and the devil, residing in our ways of being and doing. Indeed, it is only through the process of putting off what is of darkness and putting on what is of light, putting on Christ, that we become like Him.
Let’s again consider a scripture we have discussed before:
“The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.”
Romans 13:12-14 AMP
Learning to walk as a new creation is a process in which the Holy Spirit reveals what is not of Himself, what is of darkness, and strengthens us, empowers us, to reject those works, while obeying what God has said. Failure to take that spiritual journey, that journey taking us from only knowing how to live in bondage to sin, to inheriting what God has promised us through Jesus Christ, makes us fall short of what God has provided for us.
We will talk further about this next time.