MESSAGES OF FAITH: Making a good beginning

The topic for the “Message of Faith” in June is “Making a Good Beginning,” with the idea concerning graduating seniors and their moving into a career.

Will this new job fit the graduate’s skills and training? Will the salary be sufficient to live? Is the working location in a reasonable place? There are so many other things to consider for a good beginning.

In pondering this topic, I thought of my Christian life with the teaching of Jesus that we must be born again. A new beginning for sure.

What does it mean to be born again? Perhaps, 1 John 1: 9 will help us to understand about being born again. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” First of all, I begin to realize my unrighteousness, that I am outside of a relationship with God and I can have forgiveness for my sins, entering a spiritual relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul takes us a step further in grasping what it is to be born again. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off the 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.” (Ephesians 4:22 — 24).

Paul continues, in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.”

So, a good beginning is now possible, in that the old is gone. The new is here. “Therefore, each you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4: 25 — 27).

Does it seem to remote that you could participate in a new creation?

Remember a starting place is realizing that we no longer need to let lying and anger be a part of our lives. Instead, “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any one has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3: 12 -14).

May I say in conclusion, in making a good beginning is to begin in forgiveness. “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them” (Romans 4: 7 — 8).

Indeed, “the old is gone, the new is here.”