A New Life, A New Heart

One of the most effulgent Bible characters in the New Testament is the apostle Paul. After experiencing the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he became zealous for the Master's work. His only passion and joy in life was to bring others also to the Saviour he has found. The actuating principle of His life was to declare the goodness of God and the transforming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. His ardor in the kingdom business was always inflamed with the memory of what Christ has done for him.

Yes indeed, Paul had a very bad record. His past was stained with cruelty and murder and his life was blemished with a lot of moral defects. The taste of the sins, the worldly honour and the fame he was enjoying could have led him to be comfortable in his abode. But his encounter with Christ transformed Him. He knew well of the past shortcomings which could have silenced his voice in the holy records and impede his spiritual growth. There were many things in Paul’s life that could have triggered mockery and contempt from his contemporaries in line of his new faith.

But glory be to the transformative grace of God, grace that pardons all our sins and takes care of all our guilt. Grace that is able to give us a new life after Christ has made us whole. This grace always searches for us; and while we were yet sinners the love of God (Christ) was given for us. Like Paul, we did not seek for it but it was sent in search for us. On that Damascus road, the Light of the world illuminated the mind and heart of Paul and transformed him. In his transformation, Paul understood how to respond to God’s grace. This is done by forsaking the former things, counting them as garbage and loss and embracing the new heart that is profitable in the new life.

The experience of Paul should be an epitome for all Christians. The grace of God has found us in the streets, the bars, the shrines, the cultic and psychic centers. As we were engaging in the adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries and the likes, the still small voice called us into a new life. "Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" was the offer from Christ. As we have accepted to live this new life, the things of the past that are not in conformity with the faith of Christ should be shunned.

Unfortunately, there are many who call themselves Christians (accepting the new life) but still possesses the old heart. They are not privy to the Master’s command; "go and sin no more". Though they have accepted Christ, they have not fully surrendered to Him. They profess to be in Christ but still cling to their old life, the former things have not become former. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spot? OH YES!, if so, then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. You have accepted Christ; you have become a new creature; you need to have a change of heart; Yes, the old heart (lifestyle) should give room for the new. You need to do so, but not in your own might. Give your will to Christ for His assurance to you is that "a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh."

(2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:17; Galatians 5:19-21; Philippians 3:13-16; Matthew 11:28; John 8:11; Jeremiah 13:23; Ezekiel 36:26; Ezekiel 18:31)

Pr. Nicholas Obeng Agyekum