London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash in the interior.
As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
“Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.”
After sharing this incident, Ian L. Wilson made this application: “Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God’s, the old life is over. He makes all things new. All He wants is the site and the permission to build.” *
Sin wreaks havoc in our lives; it is self-destructive.
But Jesus can make our lives new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we might have forgiveness and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23). His blood cleanses us from our sins when we accept His offer on His terms (Revelation 1:5).
God will save and make new those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin and “build a new life” for those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
“Bring Christ your broken life, So marred by sin, He will create anew, Make whole again; Your empty, wasted years He will restore, And your iniquities Remember no more.”
— Thomas O. Chisholm
Won’t YOU give the Master Architect and Builder permission to completely renovate your life and build something beautiful and eternal in you?
— David A. Sargent
* From “A New Creation” by Ian L. Wilson as shared in www.sermonillustrations.com.
