created

After months and months in the Psalms, I am loving my recent quiet study time in the book of Ephesians. It is chock full of truth for my life today.

This morning, I was hovering over Ephesians 4:22-24:

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

I was automatically reminded of all the years I spent in my Christian life trying to make myself new. Make myself good. Make myself presentable to God. What a waste of time and energy!

I was also reminded of my 7th grader’s recent lesson in science. Consider the Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy:

Neither matter nor energy can be created or destroyed,

but they can be changed from one form to another.

Man is not capable of creating anything. God has created all things in the universe, and what He has made can only be changed from one form to another. For example, matter can be changed from liquid to solid. In the case of energy, it can be converted from mechanical energy to chemical energy. But science is clear… we are not able to create anything.

Ephesians 4 says that our new selves are “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”. Since we are not able to create anything, this work is up to our Creator. 

The word “created” here is ktizo, which means to make, to found, to create, to shape. This is the same word used in Colossians 1:16 where it states that “by Him all things were created”.  It is from a root word ktaomai, which means to acquire for one’s self. There is an underlying meaning of marriage here… to acquire a bride for one’s self.

The Lord has created in us a new person, to be His bride, to be the love of His life. We cannot create a new person within ourselves. We are only able to take our old selves, try to dress them up, and pretend to be new, good, and holy.

If you’re like me, you’ve spent way too much time trying to do this. It’s exhausting. Frustrating. It leads nowhere. The cracks in the veneer show too quickly.

Give up, friend!! Stop trying to make yourself new. Turn yourself over to God and let Him create the new you. Let Him show you who you really are. His treasure. His child. The one He loves. The one He died for. Stop performing and start living. Get off the stage and throw yourself into His embrace. He is waiting with open arms!