A New Life

We are finally in our new house. We've been living here since February and what a blessing! Being here feels like a new life. A fresh start. A new beginning to another part of our lives. I find that such a cool thought. We waited over 16 years to be at this place in our lives, to have a home of our own, designed just for us and in a place we so desired. It's been worth the wait. God's timing is perfect. And this week I was reading in the book of Ephesians in the my Bible. It was chapter 4:17-32....A New Life. A new life in Christ to be exact. I found myself remembering that in the Old Testament that God said He was going to "raise up a righteous Branch"(Jer. 23:5). But the people of the OT would not see this happen. It wouldn't be until the New Testament times that this "righteous Branch" would be revealed and seen. Jesus Christ was this righteous Branch. He would offer a new life through His sacrifice on the cross and ressurrection. Sadly, some would not accept this gift of righteousness. Paul writes to the Ephesians that they "must not walk as the Gentiles do" (Eph. 4:17) They are "darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart" (Eph. 4:18). He goes on to remind them that they, the Ephesians, were "taught in him as the truth is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21). So their lives should reflect this new life in Christ. They were to put off the old self and "be renewed in the spirit of their minds" (Eph. 4:22a & 23). A new way of living. A new way of thinking. A new way of being. It was a new beginning in their life. What they knew before would no longer be for they have found a new life in Christ. Just as we have a new life here on our mountain and things will never be as they were before. It's a new beginning to another part of our life. Just as accepting Christ into your heart and as your Savior is a new beginning to the best part of your life.