A Final Letter to my Old Self

Dear Old Self,

Here we are again. You keep coming up. You continue to nag, to annoy, to pester me. You have to understand: I don’t want you anymore. I don’t want your old desires, old wants, old temptation.

I know, I know — I do this to myself. I am the problem. You allure me away with my old, sinful temptations and desires. Sometimes—too many times—the things you hold out in front of me appeal to me. I hate that. But you have to stop. Even though I sometimes like what you give, my ultimate allegiance is not to you, but Christ. In fact, my new self—my life—is hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3-4 says so: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

So, Old Self, this is my final letter to you. Perhaps you’ll finally get the hint: you’re not my identity anymore. My identity is in Christ; I am eternally united to Him. I died to you permanently when God saved me.

I know you’ll keep trying; you’ll persist in your nagging way. You won’t stop tempting me with my old sins. I’m aware. And I’ll keep fighting back. I know me telling you “I’m done” will go through one ear and out the other. That is, truly, on me. But this letter is a declaration.

A declaration of freedom; I am no longer a slave to sin, but to Jesus. And that’s a good thing.

A declaration of war; I may lose the battle on occasion but Jesus has already won the war when He paid for my sins on the cross.

A declaration of new life; I am a new creation in Christ. You, Old Self, might still be here, but you don’t define me anymore. Jesus does.

So, Old Self, this is my final goodbye. I know you’ll be back, and I know on this side of glory I’ll give in one too many times. But I want you to know that I am never forsaking my Christ to go back to my Old Self. And listen, Old Self, that’s not because I’m so good at this Christian life, but because Jesus is perfect at holding onto me, at making me more like Him.

I’m not sure if I’ve told you, but if I have, I’ll say it again: I can’t wait for your official death. Good riddance. Jesus is Lord of my life, not you.

Good riddance,

New Self