November 7, 2019

The Old Made New

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

The John Deere tractor fires up without a second’s hesitation. I shift it into gear and soon we are headed through an open gate toward a field that is overgrown with weeds. I drop the bush hog and it begins to slice the weeds with precision.

Up and down the hills and terraces we go. Each pass reveals more of the beauty that lies beneath the weeds. I love that about bush hogging. Results are immediate and distinctive. Each movement forward erases the darkness that once seemed overwhelming.

I spent most of my life being told I couldn’t drive a tractor and, surely, would never be able to bush hog a field. I’ve surprised everyone, perhaps even myself. But not God. Nothing ever surprises God. He knows exactly what we are capable of accomplishing if we will only believe.

Oh, it hasn’t always been smooth. I’m only now bush hogging some of the steeper areas of the property. I’ve learned to go slow and hold tight. It’s like going through a tough time in life. Holding tight to God, to His promises, will see you through the darkest days. It doesn’t mean those days won’t come. They will. But it means you are anchored in truth and held close by a loving Father who cherishes you.

When you give your life into His care, it’s amazing what becomes possible. Stepping out in faith allows you to do what you never thought possible. Holding tight to the One who loves you most allows Him to transform your life into something new.

The pasture looks beautiful today. The weeds and thorns of yesterday are gone and new growth has sprung up in its place. See, He’s doing a new thing. It is beautiful and it is good.