You Can be Repurposed

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

With all the seasonal highway construction happening in our area, I knew it was essential to put up signs alerting the drivers that were diverted to our 7th Annual Bad Dawg Ultra (happening this weekend) course of the need to slow down. Because of a recent bridge closure, there was going to be excessive traffic on the normally peaceful back roads the runners taking part in the race would be on and we needed to make the drivers aware. This need led me to pray over the best and most inexpensive way to get that done, since the race is one of our biggest fundraisers for our OneSolePurpose project and signage can be quite expensive.

 
And then this divinely inspired thought came to me… “Use recent election campaign signs! Most people are throwing them out anyway. Why not repurpose them?” By God’s grace, after reaching out to a few people, my team and I not only had quite a few donated for their new purpose but one of our local recently elected officials gladly offered up the multiple ones he had successfully used. And just like that, we were abounding in free signage that now had a new use!

And let me tell you that I was beyond thankful that these signs had not been thrown away and could serve a new purpose. What some people thought was no longer valuable was of utmost worth to us! With some inexpensive bright construction paper, some duct tape, and some new messaging “slogans,” in the form of “SLOW DOWN, RUNNERS ON ROAD,” handwritten with a broad black sharpie, the signs were as good as new!

And, you know, if “to repurpose” an item is to “use an existing object, building, or piece of content for a completely different function than it was originally built or designed for—or to, instead of throwing an item away or letting it go to waste, adapt it for a new use,” then every believer should be beyond grateful that God has repurposed them rather than throwing them away.  

You see, the Bible tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” That means the purpose for which we used to live—to satisfy the longings of our flesh—is no longer our purpose for living.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Our new purpose then, since our flesh has been crucified (or put to death) with Christ, is to live for Jesus. Additionally, our new purpose for living is to know God, to serve God by serving others, and to make God’s great Name known!

Is that amazing or what??

So, no matter what your old life was like or what you did in the past, be thankful that, when you chose to accept Jesus as your Savior, God repurposed you to live for Him my friend. And if you have not made the choice to accept Jesus and become a new creation, do it today. It will be the best decision that you ever make. I promise you! 

Heavenly Father, thank You for having a new purpose for all those who put their trust in You. Help us to understand that, even in our sin, You loved us so much that You weren’t willing to throw us away but chose to send Your one and only Son to die for us that we might have a new life and a new purpose. Help us to surrender our lives to You in the same way Jesus surrendered His life for us that others may come to know You and seek You. It’s in Your precious name we pray. Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!