Put Off the Old Self and Put On the New Self in Christ

# A City's Transformation: From Ruin to Renewal

For more than four decades, the 22-story Capital One building had been a striking symbol of the skyline in Lake Charles, Louisiana. However, after a series of storms swept through southwestern Louisiana in 2020, the building became an eyesore, its windows shattered and covered with tattered tarps. Visitors and residents no longer wanted to look at it, and city officials were searching for ways to improve the situation.

Over the past four years, the building's owner, Los Angeles-based real estate company Hertz Investment Group, had promised to repair the structure after settling with insurance company Zurich (according to The Advocate). The estimated cost to bring the building back to code was $167 million. Eventually, the two parties reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount. Ultimately, the building had to be demolished, funded by $7 million in private money guaranteed by the city. Hertz still owns the property, and the future of the site remains undetermined. The building collapsed in just seconds after a series of controlled explosions inside. It crumbled into a massive cloud of dust and ash—a pile about five stories high. The mayor of Lake Charles, Nic Hunter, described the demolition in bittersweet terms: it was both sweet and bitter. A symbol of the city had now become a symbol of destruction, caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta, beyond any possibility of recovery—it had to be completely demolished so that a new direction could begin.

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## A Spiritual Message

Accepting the "bitterness"—letting go of the old life—to embrace the "sweetness"—a new, good life in Christ—is essential for every Christian. We human beings are similar to those tall, beautiful buildings, creatures that God created in His image, glorious and noble! But when sin enters, we are no longer the noble image that God intended! Sin, like destructive storms, has damaged both the physical and spiritual lives of God's people, making us no longer reflect His holy, beautiful "image." Therefore, on our path following Christ, whatever has defiled us before God must be removed; we must distance ourselves from it completely, turning 180 degrees away. Jesus taught us: "No one tears a piece out of a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old" (Luke 5:36). Let us put off the old self "and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). We cannot patch up our spiritual lives; we cannot live double lives; serve two masters; walk two paths; and expect to draw near to our holy God! We must completely abandon the old self, the old way of living, the old faith; and walk on the only path that Jesus died to open for us, erasing all our sins! We must obey Jesus's teaching: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money" (Matthew 6:24); instead, we must always trust with our whole hearts in God's almighty power to do everything! Let us live with all our hearts and souls in the fear of the Lord, as the apostle Paul abandoned all earthly things to live in Christ. He said: "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). Thank God for saving us from all evil, for dying in our place for our sins. Truly, He alone is all we need for this life: "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17)! May the Lord keep us in His house; may He help us avoid all sin, so that we may live holy before God, worthy of being called His "beloved people"; and through this, may those who do not yet believe in God come to know Him and open their hearts to receive Jesus as their Savior and come into His house! Amen!

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## A Prayer in Verse

Do not walk two directions, two paths, Do not serve two masters, rely on two people! Put your faith in God, The One who gives us life and our days!

Behold this vast world around us, Know that God created it all from the beginning, Humble yourself before God in prayer, Ask Him to forgive the sins we have held so long, Ask Him to have mercy on us, Ask Him to sanctify us, to cleanse us from all stain!

He alone is worthy of worship, With all our hearts and strength, trust in the Lord alone!

Honor the holy Trinity, Give thanks to Christ who watches over every day, The Holy Spirit guides us every moment, Determined to follow Christ, never straying from the way!

Thank you, Lord, for Your enduring love, Help your child know how to live as an example for others, So that the world may know the Name of Heaven, May they open their hearts to God and follow the Father forever!

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