Some of you may realize that we are creatures of habit. We tend to sit on the same seat in a meeting room or the same spot in our house, we put our keys at the same pocket, wear the same jacket day by day, and in favor of the same food, etc. As far as habit goes, this is where we always said, “I used to do so and so…”  Interesting thing is the phrase “I used to do so and so” could mean that I have either a good or a bad habit and now is gone. Or, I have some good old days and now they are gone.

Last weekend, we went to a Chinese New Year celebration party, locally. Apart from enjoying the food and programs, we had a chance to meet and talk to some of our old acquaintances. It is great to see them, but the bad is for a moment I couldn’t even remember some of their names. “Bad, this is really embarrassing!” I told myself.

I thought I used to be good at memorizing people’s names but now is not the case anymore. Then, in the middle of my conversation with one of my old friends at the party, my friend asked, “Do you still practice Tai-chi exercise?  I remember that you used to do it.” I told him that yes, I used to be but now is kind of “off and on” due to my back problem.  “Isn’t Tai-chi exercise supposed to be good for your back?” my friend pressed. “Yes, if you practice it diligently.” I smiled.

Oftentimes, we may give up a good habit in exchange of a bad one and it causes impact to our life subsequently. Therefore, “I used to do something” may hint a warning implicitly. This reminds me of what Apostle Paul indicated to us. He told us that we used to live in the ways of this world and we were dead in our transgressions and sins, because of our cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts (Ephesians 2:1-3). Paul revealed to us our “used-to-be” status which we used to have bad habits in following our desires and thoughts in flesh. He also told us that because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5). What a gracious deliverance!

Because of Christ’s gracious deliverance, we can proudly say that we used to be dead in sins and transgressions and now we were made alive with Him. This lets me remember John Newton’s “Amazing Grace” – I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

My dear friends, if you recognize the used-to-be status, which is not so good, and you want to have a change, then, here is a promise from God — 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) 若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了.  May you become a new creation!

Disclaimer: The sharing is pure from my personal view; therefore, please don’t take it to be absolute. Thanks.