What's In Your Closet? Part 6 of 6

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Have you ever seen any ugly bride? Most people would answer no. From the day the bride begins to plan her wedding to the moment she walks down the aisle, there have been hours and hours of thought and preparation. Magazines full of pictures and instructions as well as conversations with friends and family have been a part of everyday life for the bride-to-be. When the day arrives, the guests enter the decorated church. The bridal party is dressed to perfection and the music begins. Then she appears. The bride takes our breath away and everyone smiles as she passes. All are in awe at the transformation and beauty of the moment.

In our final part of the CLOSET acrostic is the letter T - Transformed into the new you. From the moment the decision was made to make a change in a cluttered closet, there have been hours of thoughts and choices. Each item has been evaluated; it either fit or it didn't, and it was a keeper or it wasn't. Some of the favorites, ones with memories attached, and the pieces that made us laugh at the thought of why it was purchased have remained or been removed. We are no longer wearing the old clothes or the ones that didn't fit quite right. Suddenly, there is realization that the items removed, the ones that were being held on to, were what caused the closet to be cluttered. Why were they held on to so long when they were not of great value or being worn?

We can probably say that about our spiritual closet as well. The things we hold on to - are they valuable? Are they keeping us lost and discouraged? As we remove the clutter of sin in our life, we begin to realize the consequences of hanging on to those.

There is one special advantage we now have as we gaze into our clean, and organized closets. There is room for the new! Little by little, item by item, we now have a clearer vision when we shop. We know what is in our closet and we know what will compliment what is in there. It is also more clear what will not be a proper fit. As we plan what to wear, we have that "look good, feel good" attitude. The new physical changes have created a new kick in our step and a smile on our face. We have a new sense of joy and contentment and confidence grows in other areas of our life.

Guess what? The same will happen in our spiritual life as well. A new relationship with God will change us and others will notice! When we accept God's gift of salvation and overcome sin in our life, we become set apart for God and we are made pure. As believers, we are the bride of Christ. He will never reject us because we belong to Him. We no longer are lost in sin. God has given us clear guidelines for a new life, given us instruction in His Word, and joy and peace preside. Others will see the transformation - the new you. Just as our verse says, the old is gone and the new has come.

Revelation 3:5 says, "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life."

What is the condition of your closet today? Is it transformed? Are you allowing God to search your heart? Does he find a willing spirit? There will be bad days and good days, but as we trust God and daily obey His instruction, we can expect blessing. The Bible is packed full of truth for living. Read it, love it and live it!

What's in your closet?

Lord, thank you for your love for us and for the gift of salvation. As we allow you to search our hearts, our spiritual closets, help us to be free from the clutter of sin and maintain a life full of blessing from obedience.

Janet Stutzman