- Feb 7, 2010
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Most of us dont do it we dont look under the hood when somethings wrong with the car. We may have some idea whats under there, but in most cases we would not know how to figure out what was wrong if we looked, much less how to fix it if we knew what was wrong. We also dont want to find something unexpected and have to deal with the consequences. So we leave it to the experts, pay whatever they say, and hope it works right when we need to use it. And many times we feel weve been ripped off when it still has problems.
The same is often true for our spiritual lives were hesitant to look under the hood for many of the same reasons. We know something is wrong, we may be able to articulate the symptoms, but have no clue where under the hood to look to diagnose the problem, nor how to fix it. In fact, like with the car, we might not even know how to open the hood.
We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Thinking of this in terms of a car as disciples of Jesus Christ, weve been given a new engine; not just a rebuilt one. That means under the hood we have a new heart one that is connected to God through Jesus Christ. The trouble is, as long as we are on this earth, we have it hooked up to all the old parts weve been using all along until they are replaced as well. So even though our new heart is working just fine when we get it, it can quickly become corrupted by those other parts if we dont allow God to continue his process by replacing them as well. And that process can take time and be painful, especially if, like with the car, we leave that process to the experts rather than taking responsibility for it ourselves. And, if we leave it to them, we will end up feeling ripped off because they cant do the whole job and thats not their calling. They are there as a part of the body of Christ to help equip us to do what needs to be done, not to fix us for God or babysit us until we go to heaven.
So how do we look under the hood our spiritual hood that covering over our hearts everyone else sees, that may make us look like everything is working fine, when in fact the opposite may be true? Checking with the Owners Manual can be a huge help with that process, from Goop to nuts. All through the Bible God provides absolute dos and donts, recommendations, pointers, and even illustrations to show us how something should or should not be done. He gives us maintenance requirements put-offs and put-ons to get those old, corrupted parts removed and replaced with the ones that will work with the new engine. But we need to open the Bible to find those instructions, and we need to be willing to follow what it says to get our new hearts back into proper working order and then to keep them maintained.
Colossians 3 reminds us about our new life in Christ and what that should mean, and then gives us one of the maintenance lists we need to work through under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to get our hearts tuned up. God doesnt mince words in this passage, or give us a pass on the requirements. Like not changing the oil, or not filling when it is low, there is a price for ignoring these needs. Reading from the Owners Manual:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at Gods right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Dont be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Dont lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesnt matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
On this weekend when many of us remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who at great personal cost brought forgiveness and salvation to those who believe on him as Lord and Savior, lets take a good look under the hood with the one who made us, and start replacing those parts that need to go to be put to death in our lives and put on the parts from him that were made to work with the new heart he gave us. Add the parts he points out to your prayer list and check every day until the old has gone and the new has come. It may cost you more than you imagined, but nothing like what it cost him for your new heart. And your new life will keep running better and better, regardless of what you face in this world, as you allow the Lord to manage your life.
The same is often true for our spiritual lives were hesitant to look under the hood for many of the same reasons. We know something is wrong, we may be able to articulate the symptoms, but have no clue where under the hood to look to diagnose the problem, nor how to fix it. In fact, like with the car, we might not even know how to open the hood.
We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Thinking of this in terms of a car as disciples of Jesus Christ, weve been given a new engine; not just a rebuilt one. That means under the hood we have a new heart one that is connected to God through Jesus Christ. The trouble is, as long as we are on this earth, we have it hooked up to all the old parts weve been using all along until they are replaced as well. So even though our new heart is working just fine when we get it, it can quickly become corrupted by those other parts if we dont allow God to continue his process by replacing them as well. And that process can take time and be painful, especially if, like with the car, we leave that process to the experts rather than taking responsibility for it ourselves. And, if we leave it to them, we will end up feeling ripped off because they cant do the whole job and thats not their calling. They are there as a part of the body of Christ to help equip us to do what needs to be done, not to fix us for God or babysit us until we go to heaven.
So how do we look under the hood our spiritual hood that covering over our hearts everyone else sees, that may make us look like everything is working fine, when in fact the opposite may be true? Checking with the Owners Manual can be a huge help with that process, from Goop to nuts. All through the Bible God provides absolute dos and donts, recommendations, pointers, and even illustrations to show us how something should or should not be done. He gives us maintenance requirements put-offs and put-ons to get those old, corrupted parts removed and replaced with the ones that will work with the new engine. But we need to open the Bible to find those instructions, and we need to be willing to follow what it says to get our new hearts back into proper working order and then to keep them maintained.
Colossians 3 reminds us about our new life in Christ and what that should mean, and then gives us one of the maintenance lists we need to work through under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to get our hearts tuned up. God doesnt mince words in this passage, or give us a pass on the requirements. Like not changing the oil, or not filling when it is low, there is a price for ignoring these needs. Reading from the Owners Manual:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at Gods right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Dont be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Dont lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesnt matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
On this weekend when many of us remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who at great personal cost brought forgiveness and salvation to those who believe on him as Lord and Savior, lets take a good look under the hood with the one who made us, and start replacing those parts that need to go to be put to death in our lives and put on the parts from him that were made to work with the new heart he gave us. Add the parts he points out to your prayer list and check every day until the old has gone and the new has come. It may cost you more than you imagined, but nothing like what it cost him for your new heart. And your new life will keep running better and better, regardless of what you face in this world, as you allow the Lord to manage your life.
