There is nothing like becoming a Christian. You remember the joy? The fulfillment? The purpose that came into your life? The exuberant excitement when He saved you?

Working in ministry on West Georgia’s campus I see a lot of things. But one of the most common (and personally frustrating) things I see is when someone becomes a Christian, is full of passion and zeal for the Lord, but a few months later is pretty much living the same exact life.

I’m not saying I’m shocked that human beings continue to sin. I’m simply observing that sometimes the zeal and passion we see in the baptistry easily fades away. I would say this is more noticeable in the new things these believers don’t do as opposed to the old things that they still do. Things like praying, reading the Bible, and sharing their faith.

To me, it seems to be an identity issue; people tend to forget that their identity is in Christ.

But the Bible is clear about what happens in the life of a new believer, “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, ESV).

We forget what God went through to claim us, “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20, ESV). Jesus Christ literally bought us back from sin with His blood.

When we a genuinely converted, our old life dies and we are made alive in Christ; “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, ESV). 

What empowers the believer to live this new life? To realize that your life is literally gone and now God has full control of it, that is what surrender is! And praise God for it; He takes our messed up lives, and makes us new creations to serve and honor him.