In our growing-up years, my friend Duane’s family owned an auto salvage yard in our home town. Junk cars were their expertise, harvesting parts for resale and reuse, while selling off unusable metal to scrap dealers. It came as no surprise, then, that when August came around—and the county fair with it—Duane entered the Demolition Derby. Now, he had acres of inventory from which to choose his ride, but I can promise you this—Duane’s Corvette was never a consideration for the annual melee in the mud. We pamper dream cars, and they return the favor.
Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul instructed them in the care with which we must treat God’s most prized possession—a redeemed us. “Flee from sexual immorality,” he wrote, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”1 These believers were no longer the total wrecks of a broken-down world, but newly restored people of God, to be steered now by the Holy Spirit and to bring glory to the Father. Why should they even consider returning to their former ways of destruction and, in the process, dishonoring themselves and the One who purchased us at great price for Himself?
We don’t need to be reminded that sin, in whatever form it takes, is corrosive to our soul and damaging to those around us. Life is a great teacher, and it has taught us this lesson well, too often the hard way. Instead, let’s take time to remember Whose we are, the ultimate price He paid to make us His own, and the image—His image—to which He is steadily transforming us. We are no longer clunkers destined for demolition, we belong to God now, and we care for that which is His—namely ourselves.
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19b, 20)
Father, you’ve redeemed me from destruction and destined me for your glory. I cannot fathom your love, but I gratefully accept it. May your truth and love guide me today, so that this life would glorify you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Christ in me is redemption.
1 Corinthians 6:18, 19a
Paul Nordman—Author 