That Was Then

 

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

I have a new obsession with Valspar’s Chalky Finish Paint.

For about a year now we have been trying re-theme our home to a beach oasis. In my mind, I have this beach cottage envisioned with crisp white distressed furniture, dark wooden accents and an array of greens, blues and turquoises. I guess I have a minor affinity towards the beach. Makes sense since I live in Florida and visit the beach frequently. I can also manage to live on the beach almost a month a year collectively in our RV. So when I can’t be relaxing at a beach paradise somewhere, I can enjoy the theme in my home.

Painting our existing furniture was never an option (until now). My husband would not let me undertake such a big project. Partially because he probably knew I would tire quickly of it and he would be left to finish it. That was, however, until we discovered chalky finish paint. After having him watch several videos and read Pinterest posts, we both are now in the “paint the furniture” mode.

As I sat in my garage painting my first practice project (an old worn out bar stool), I began to think of an analogy between it and our life in Christ.

Here is this old, outdated bar stool that did not match our beach theme. In reality, it is and example of how we once were before Christ in our old nature; worn out and sin filled. Yet, God in His sovereignty chose us in the midst of all our unworthiness saved us and forgave us and made us a new creation. The old has gone away in the past. That was our Justification.

As I painted the first layer of Kid’s Glove Chalky Paint, the old green under the paint was showing through the first coat quite a bit. However, as each new coat of paint was applied, that old worn out green color slowly faded away and a bright new bar stool emerged.

Think of us as we grow spiritually. As we read God’s word, sit under good solid teaching, fellowship with other believers and pray we too grow more and more to resemble Christ in our day to day lives. As we mature spiritually, our old sin natured self becomes a distant memory. All those flesh desires we once had are now gone and our purpose in life is to serve God and share his amazing grace and good news with others. This is our Sanctification Process.

Now my bar stool is complete. I am very happy with the way it turned out. It was a trial run for painting our kitchen table and family room bookcases. With a lot of work, patience, and some Valspar Chalky Finish Paint, I can re-purpose our furniture pieces to become that beach theme inspired house I have always dreamed of.

One day, we too will be complete. We will be perfect and live in complete holiness with God. There will be no more sin, no more shame, no more tears and no more sorrow. This will be our Glorification.

When we become children of God, we are new creations. The old has gone and the new is come. Growing in Christ isn’t always easy and it certainly isn’t without trial and pain but one day we will see the bigger picture of God’s plan. It will be totally worth it.

I’ll close with the chorus of Josh Wilson’s catchy new song “That Was Then, This Is Now,”

That was then, this is now
Your bought by the blood,
Saved by the son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
It’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead and put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
Cause that was then and this is now

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