"Old" and "New"

I recently upgraded my computer. The old one just wouldn’t cut it. It was 7 years old, and had 7 years of stuff on it, and it wouldn’t work anymore, so it needed to be replaced.

Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to install some of my “old” computer software onto my “new” computer. This has proven to be easier said than done. Take yesterday for example.

I was doing some research and wanted to copy a note from a book into my notes, and remembered that I had the same book on the computer, so I tried to install the “old” software onto the “new” machine.

It didn’t work.

I ended up calling the company, and we spent about 30 minutes on the phone, uninstalling the “old” version of the program, and reinstalling a “new” version of the program.

It seems to be that something “old” won’t work on something “new”.

This isn’t limited to computers. This principle, “old” into “new”, is a life principle, taught by Jesus Himself:

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins." (Mark 2:21-22, NIV)

The analogy is pretty clear: something “old” doesn’t go on—or in—something “new”.

For the “new” product to work effectively, “new” must be placed in that product.

You and I, if we have given our lives to Jesus Christ are a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17, NIV) and we are instructed not to put “old” into “new”:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal 5:1, NIV)

In verse 13 of that same chapter, we read these words: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature….” (NIV)

The message is pretty clear: if we have been made “new” by the blood of Jesus, we are not to allow any “old” thing to come back in again.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” (Gal 5:24, NIV)

Putting something “old” into something “new” is not recommended; because it will destroy what has been made “new”….