“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

…that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

      Ephesians 4:22-24

So why the double title? Well, the first “The Old And The New” is the name of our series, exploring the similarities between the teaching found in the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. The second “The Old And The New” is a look at how our lives should be different now that we have given our lives to Jesus. So with that being said, let’s look at what the Old Testament says regarding our new life in Christ.

God Is Doing A New Thing

God wanted the people of Israel to know that He was going to do “a new thing.” This is a tremendous message of hope that despite their rebellion and the judgment that would come as a result, God was not finished with Israel. He had not cast them away nor was He disinterested in restoring them. He begins with reminding them of the value of forgetting the past. “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.” Have you discovered that one of the enemy’s greatest weapons against the people of God is bringing up the past. I even heard recently, once again, of a pastor accused of something that was in his past. There is every indication that this sin was already repented of, dealt with, confessed, and made known to those affected yet, there seems to be a renewed attempt to bring back the past in an effort to distort or disqualify this man. I will not comment any further as I do not know the details. But this seems to be an all too often occurring trend. We see it in politics, ministry, and in the lives of those who hold some sort of public position. But putting the past in the past is absolutely vital if we are to walk in the “newness” found in Christ. One reason for this is because God, when our sin is confessed, repented of, and dealt with, is quite willing to forgive and cast away any remembrance of sin from us. This is done at conversion and continues throughout our life so that our sin, when not hidden, will never find us out (Romans 8:1). Consider the following characteristic of God:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Psalm 103:11-14

Perhaps you need to claim the promise that God has taken your sin and “cast it away as far as the east is from the west.” With man, we will not always find this response but with God, it is always available. Putting the past in the past, accepting that God has cast it away where it will never be found, and not allowing it to affect our present and future, is an essential part of redemption and restoration. Even Paul knew how important putting the past away is for the servant of God. Consider the following:

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

        Philippians 3:12-14

For Paul, salvation and a new life in Christ was a life-long pursuit. And to what was Paul referring when he said, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…?” Paul’s former life wasn’t one of a pagan pursuing all of the different forms of sin and debauchery available to him at the time. Quite the opposite. Paul’s former life was one of religion. He was a Jewish Pharisee. He was well studied, an expert in the Law, and very respected for his position in Judaism. Yet, he was without Christ. A quick aside…you can be religious and be without Christ. It’s not religion that saves rather it is a born again relationship with Jesus that brings life-saving power. Paul believed that he was serving God and doing what was necessary yet the reality was that he was working against what God was doing through Christ. And what was the turning point for Paul? The day that he met Jesus was the day that he began a new life in Christ. So Paul says, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He was forsaking his former life as a Jewish Pharisee in order to pursue his calling in Christ. 

We would do well to remember that putting our past behind us is a must if we are to live in the present power of the presence of God and to have the hope for the future that God intends for His people to enjoy. Man may continue to remind you of your past (probably an indication that they haven’t put theirs away) but God casts our sin “as far as the east is from the west.” And if He remembers it no more, why should we or anyone else? 

So God tells the people of Israel, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.” But it’s what comes next that gets exiting! “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?” God is telling them that He is about to do something that they have yet seen. But the question is, “Will the people even be aware of it?” This is a good question for the New Testament, Spirit-filled church in the 21st century to asked of themselves. Are we aware of what God is doing now? Are we simply operating in the “business as usual” mode or are we waiting expectantly for a mighty movement of God? A good litmus test for this is our expectations when we come together as a local body of believers. When corporate worship services are held, do we anticipate a mighty movement of the Spirit or are we content operating in our own strength, understanding, and talent? There is an old adage: “When the Word of God is preached in the power of the Spirit, people will leave either glad, sad, or mad, but never unchanged.” I like that! This is what should be happening every time the body of Christ meets together! But could it be that the past is keeping us from experiencing this kind of movement of God, whether corporately or personally in our own lives? We have to put away the past in order to embrace the “new thing” that God desires to do in our lives. 

“It will spring forth,” is the declaration of God to the people of Israel. This “new thing” that He is going to do is something that they had never before experienced. It is described as, “a roadway in the wilderness” and “rivers in the desert.” A “roadway” signifies that God will always make a way for His people. For us, as Christians, the same is true. God will always make a way! “Rivers in the desert” is an indication that God intends to bring refreshment and healing to us. When we spiritually thirst, we can come to Jesus! (John 7:37-38) 

In the New Testament, we see the “new thing” that God does for us in Jesus Christ. Consider the following:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away behold, new things have come.

          2 Corinthians 5:17

God does a “new thing” when we are saved and He continues to do things in our lives that we have never seen before. This is the exciting life that we have as Christians. The miracle of salvation and repeated miracles throughout our lives as we serve Him and rest in HIs promises should be the norm for any Spirit-filled Christian. But it is our passage out of Ephesians that so adequately points to the changed life that comes from those who are in Christ:

…that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

      Ephesians 4:22-24

For every Christian, there is a testimony of what life was like before Christ and what it now looks like in Jesus. Everyone’s story will be different but there is a common theme.  “I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see” is common to everyone who has given their life to Jesus (from Amazing Grace, John Newton, 1772). And Paul reminds us of this reality…”laying aside the old self,” we “put on the new self.” This is why it is impossible for an authentically saved, born again believer in Jesus, to maintain his/her former life, having no desire for anything to change. That is the antithesis of true salvation. When we are made right with God, by faith in what Christ did for us on the cross, we live lives of gratitude, leading us into a personal relationship with Him and a desire to worship Him from our hearts, all while living in the power of the Spirit that lives within us. 

Are you ready for God to do a “new thing”? Have you received the original “new thing” (salvation) that God does for everyone who will surrender their lives to Him? Are you allowing your past to dictate how you view yourself in light of who God declares you to be in Christ? Why not put the past in the past and look for God to move in your life, creating “a roadway in the wilderness” and “rivers in the desert”!