Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17
I highly doubt that there are many people reading this who are exactly like they were when they were younger. For example, there may be new foods you like. You may have used to like cars, but now you like trucks. Another one I often hear from friends is that they used to be avid sports fans, but now they find them less fulfilling.
Sometimes people change over time, but many times those changes are not overnight or immediate. Drastic changes like that are typically life-changing events. They are events that so change us that we will never be the same.
That’s exactly what is being described here in 2 Corinthians. The scripture teaches that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. He is no longer what he used to be. But what did he used to be? A sinner. A man whose life was bound by sin and a sin debt that he could not pay on his own.
That is the type of life-changing event that happens in an instant. It does not mean that the person will be perfect, but they have a new desire and a new purpose in life. Those who know the person can see the change. More importantly, the person who has changed can see the change in themselves.
While we all may have changed in a few ways throughout the years, nothing will create a change like Jesus. If you have ever had that experience, you know it. It’s an amazing experience and something to be thankful for today.