“The Old Has Become New”
A few years ago Grandpa went to an auction, because he likes to do things like that. He likes looking at the items up for sale and he gets to see folks he knows and visits with them.
At this particular auction, he saw an old baker's rack. It was badly in need of some tender loving care. The paint was peeling, there was a thick crust of rust on the legs, and it had lately been used to hold house plants, so it was dirty and needing a good cleaning.
Well, Grandpa bid on the old rack when it came up for sale, and he made the highest bid. So, home he came with this old rusty, in dire need of care prize.
The rack did not get immediate attention. It sat in a back room for awhile holding some old clay crocks that Grandpa had also bought at an auction.
Now, this old grandma had a dream for that old metal shelf. I saw a beautiful new baker's rack, with a coat of bright red paint, sitting in my kitchen, with my and Great Grandma's red and blue speckle ware dishes displayed on it.
So one day I got sand paper, paint remover and rags together. I grabbed an old lawn chair because I knew I was going to be out there for a while, and out to the carport I went to work. It required a lot of elbow grease and time, but I got the rust sanded off, and the old paint removed. Grandpa applied steel weld to the really bad areas on the lower legs. He then applied a base coat of primer paint before the beautiful "Poppy Red" color I had chosen was sprayed on. All this took days to complete because of the dry times between the paint coatings.
Now in my kitchen stands this beautiful "Poppy Red" baker's rack, holding the family's beloved speckle ware dishes, just like in my dream. The rack got a new life, a new purpose. No longer a shabby looking throw away, but a lovely piece of furniture of great value.
The Bible says that when we become believers in Christ we too become new again. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 it says, "those who become Christians become new persons. They aren't the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun."
A new person again, old sins and habits gone. In their place a changed heart, and the love of Christ Jesus. Living to please God our Father. What a wonderful change. Just like that old rusty shelf, we too can have a new lease on life through Jesus our Lord, by asking for the forgiveness of our sins and asking him into our lives to be our friend and guide while also receiving his precious gift of eternal life. Thank you, Jesus.
Dear God, thank you for your son Jesus. Through him we can become new again, our sins forgiven, and become children of God. Thank you, Amen
God Bless