Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Old On The Outside, New On The Inside - #4330

Friday, August 15, 2003

It was during those days of tribulation when our son was learning to drive. He made an interesting observation about our family chariot. He said, "Hey, Dad, this car really runs smooth." That was interesting, because that car had 150,000 miles on it! It definitely showed it on the outside. It had celebrated about ten birthdays and you could tell. But a lot of parts had been replaced along the way. The reason that car ran so well was that it had so many new parts on the inside!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Old On The Outside, New On The Inside."

When the Apostle Paul was writing our word for today from the Word of God, he must have been feeling a little like our old car. He was showing and feeling the mileage on the outside, but there was a lot new on the inside. He talks about it in 2 Corinthians 4:16 .

"We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Now, make no mistake about it - the outside Paul was really taking a beating ... sometimes literally. Earlier in this chapter, he describes himself as "hard-pressed on every side," - maybe you can relate to that - "perplexed, persecuted, struck down." But though he's showing and feeling the mileage on the outside, he says God keeps renewing him on the inside.

Actually, that's the secret of Christian unsinkability! Twice in this chapter, once at the beginning and once at the end, Paul says triumphantly, "We do not lose heart." Now, how can that be when you are getting hammered from all sides? "We are being renewed day by day." The answer? A daily renewing in your spirit.

When you live in God's will, you understand that each day is a new beginning, that God gives grace equal to that day (so if you have a light day, you get a light amount of grace; heavy day, heavy grace). Like a watch that needs winding every morning, our spirits run down every 24 hours, and God rewinds you if you make Him your first stop, your first conversation each morning. If you actually go boldly to His throne of grace, as He said to do, and pick up that day's renewing grace and perspective.

This daily replacement of "old parts" with "new parts" has kept a lot of us on the road even when the outside of us was showing the strain. You can be in a body that isn't working and still be joyful, positive, and purposeful - because of Christ. Your outer world can be caving in while there's still this settled peace in your inner world - because of Christ. Your outside can be slowed down by advancing years, but your spirit can still have the carbonation of a young person because Jesus renews you each day. You can by physically worn out, but still excited in your heart.

The key is not one dramatic repair job. It's a daily visit to the great soul-mechanic who will, for that day, fix or replace whatever inner part of you is worn or broken. So even when the outside is wearing out, you can still be running smoothly - because Jesus has put so much new on the inside!