One of the top gifts this past Christmas was the Fitbit. It was so popular that many stores and websites sold out. It’s no surprise, the health and fitness industry has become a $20 billion a year PHENOMENON—ranging from gym memberships/home equipment, health nutrition to sportswear and now technology.
I’m sure that with the BRAND NEW year the Fitbit will only become more popular. Since this is the time of year everyone wants to get in better shape and feel good about themselves. Or perhaps make some other change in their lives.
This is why we make New Year’s resolutions. Pastor Greg Laurie notes, “Medical science seeks to add years to your life, but Christ wants to add life to your years.”
We want to leave the old behind and look forward to new possibilities. Weight loss has topped the list for resolutions for decades. Do you want a better you in 2015? Or are you hoping to find yourself? Honestly, I’m hoping THIS IS MY YEAR for a lot of changes.
When Oprah Winfrey was interviewed by Barbara Walters, she confessed that. “The weight thing” was the one thing she wished she could have succeeded at. Having money won’t help you restart your life, reinvent yourself or have REJUVENATED youthful looks or help you live forever.
Despite what countless cults and new age religions say, there is no fountain of youth. And that is what my New Year’s blog will be about, the twisted gospel of “re” incarnation.
The old?
For centuries many different religions have taught beliefs about the afterlife or REGENERATION. The Greeks thought of it as a step in the process of salvation.
Recently this new age term has crept into many Christian churches as a means of describing spiritual rebirth through Christ. But, it fails to communicate the biblical concept of being BORN AGAIN, the Christian belief that the old has passed away and God is making me new (Isaiah 43:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Even Nicodemus asked, how can this be (John 3:1–21)? Christianity is a lot like a powerful volcano (1 John 3:8). Theologian Timothy Keller recently stated, “Christianity doesn't give you what you want, it is more like an explosion that destroys everything you had to make way for something new.”
The good news of the gospel is that through Christ, the old is gone (lifestyles, mistakes, and regrets) and the dead live again (Colossians 2:13-14). WHO I AM now is not who I was—I’M GONE. Hollywood has taken this doctrine and twisted it into sick entertainment.
The zombie craze, the myth of Dracula and even the runaway WALKING DEAD franchise are all spins on the new life through Christ. Remember LAZARUS? It’s clear the idea of new life has confused many and we are not all on the SAME TEAM.
Over two thousand years ago the debate over the resurrection of the dead divided the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those who denied it would have no part in the resurrection. But they believed that only God can judge. Remember the Pharisee NICODEMUS or more importantly the apostle Paul?
Jerry Jenkins writes in his book I Saul, “It took a miracle to make the old things pass away and for all things to become new. There could have been no talking me (Paul) into this. I went from a life of service to God characterized by persecuting people who believed Jesus was the Messiah, to being convinced by Christ Himself that He was indeed the Son of God. I traveled to Damascus as one person and arrived there as someone else entirely.”
INCARNATE?
Out of all the twisted teachings about new life, none are STRANGER than reincarnation. Incarnate means to be made in a human body. Not some animal or flower or even an angel.
This is why Scripture says that Jesus is God incarnate; He is GOD IN THE FLESH. He came to earth as a man, was crucified, rose from the grave and now sits on the throne. All because He loves us with a FURIOUS LOVE and that should give us all a good feeling.
The Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth that Jesus was the first of many to be raised from the dead and when He returns, those who belong to Him, WE ALL RISE UP and live with Him until the end of time (John 6:40; 1 Corinthians 15:2). In Christ we become THE IMMORTALS. Why do we need to be reincarnated?
