Colossians 1:1-2
Read Col. 1:1-2.
Do you remember when you got your first bike or car? I remember when one of my first bikes. I think today we might call it a little geeky. It wasn’t cool looking or the rage of my friends… but it was new. And it had three speeds and a spiffy soft, black vinyl covered seat, and big tires (well, not like the mountain bike tires of today, but big in my mind at the time). I used to take care that bike in ways it probably never needed. It seemed like I was taking off the tires all the time and adjusting the brakes to make sure they closed evenly. There is something about the newness of things that makes a person want to take care of them. (Come on guys, didn’t you wash your first new car like every other day?)
In Paul’s greeting to the Colossians, he calls them “saints” (NAS) or “holy” (NIV). This is not to say they were saintly, but that they were saints or holy in the sight of God because of Christ. As believer in Christ, we were imputed with (i.e. given) the righteousness of Christ and made holy before God. Our holiness is a work of Christ in this regard. But Paul also calls them “faithful”, that is to say, they were walking faithfully with God. Faithfulness was a quality of life that was conducted by these saints. Like a new bike or a new car, they were taking care of the new life that was given to them in Christ.
We also have been given a brand new life in the sight of God. Sometimes it’s hard to see just how new it is when it doesn’t reflect that newness. Don’t you wish it looked as new as it really is? Don’t you wish you took care of it as much as you did a new bike or new car? That’s the challenge we face everyday. But the truth of the matter is, we are new creations in Christ. We are holy before God. We are as brand new today as we were when Christ saved us. We are holy, and we are called to be faithful. Consider today treating your life like you would a new bike or car. Give it righteous treatment. Take care of your life by walking in faithfulness to God because, really, it’s brand new and unblemished in the sight of God.
