Who Lives?

Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV)
 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Our sins died with Jesus that day on the Cross. Our Christian walk was born the day we died to our old life; when we united our life with His.  In many respects we must die to our old life each day when the desires of the sinful nature try to ensnare us.

This can be compared to an addict who has been clean for months after going through a treatment program.  While they are no longer using, there is a daily battle that rages, an inner turmoil that tries to take over and cause relapse. The person who has claimed Christ as Savior is no longer living the former way of life, but is familiar with the daily battle with the world.

The addict's daily living is his focus, one day at a time his mantra.  Likewise, the Christian's daily walk is toward life and living it as Christ has taught.  The addict begins to turn her life around when she surrounds herself with people who care; people who can help her stay sober.  The Christian needs this same companionship, accountability and instruction.

The addict reads and studies the Big Book. He learns about sobriety and the value of staying clean by reading stories of others struggles and victories.  He avoids the old life and walks with new friends. The Christian read and study another Big Book - the Bible.  She learns of a better way to live and she adopts a new set of friends; ones who will walk alongside her, love her and encourage this new behavior.

When the addict uses both books, recovery takes on an entirely new meaning. We are all addicts of some type.  Our drug of choice may be drugs or alcohol, or it may be unhealthy relationships, or isolation or work or money or food or exercise or...  Fill in the blank.  Claiming Christ and becoming a new creation is daily work.  We all sin and fall short... But God's grace covers it all.