The inscription on the small oak log read: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” As a young boy, I often read these hand-painted words on a decoration in my parents’ bathroom. The meaning eluded me for many long years, but the Lord had etched the words on my mind. Anyone in Christ is a new creation. How are these words from 2 Corinthians 5:17 to be encouraging to a Christian--a new creature? What is this new creation? And what does this have to do with Jesus Christ?

Once upon a time I entertained a first-class airline seat. The duration of the flight called for a scrumptious meal. Looking down I almost laughed out loud at the comical sight: a metal fork and spoon, and a plastic butter knife with no teeth. The steak filet won, hands down. 
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When churches chase clever marketing techniques, circuses, and BMX stunts to draw a crowd at the expense of compromising the gospel, they have abandoned the supreme authority of God’s word and are left wielding a pathetic, plastic butter knife with no teeth. The average church attender must demand the proper place of God’s word on the Lord’s Day for both worship, faith and practice. Pastors as well must take their directives from God’s word and wield the only authoritative weapon we have: The Holy Scriptures. Once upon a time, several centuries ago, the word of God was inaccessible among the common man. Unless one had the ability and skills to read or study Latin, the Bible was closed off and the truth of the gospel as well.