Spare Parts

Gross! Disgusting! Stomach-turning! How dare she share these!

“‘Spare part’ is an item of inventory to replace failed parts.” (Wikipedia).

These x-rays “bare it all” to the world of my revised right knee, full of titanium and plastic, and my deteriorating left knee. It is embarrassing to display these, but they so dramatically show the old and the new and how this relates to life, I am sharing them!

The contrast of both knees is striking. The left knee had no “new parts” yet. It is worn down, weak, rickety and not straight. The left knee was dying. The right knee had a new life with it’s new parts and is perfectly straight.

The Bible often speaks of new parts and the old vs. the new!

“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:16) Salvation brings a decisive change and “the grace of God not only justifies but also makes ‘a new creation’ which results in a changed style of life.”

Ephesians 4:24 states, “and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (“The old is what we were before we were saved, and the new is the new life we have in Christ”).

God gave me a new life with Dr. Jim Kennedy, my “cowboy knight, my Boaz.” Because of this wonderful new part, my life will never be the same. I was given new purpose, new strength, and new joy!

Once you truly ask Christ to be your only God and Savior, you are a new creature, a new creation. Your life will never be the same. New life can only come by one way-accepting Jesus Christ.

“Jesus said … ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'” (John 11:25-26).

Knee replacements are excruciating. The pain and therapy are indescribable. You must take pain drugs to survive. I can speak of this pain and process, for I have had five total joint replacements. Your femur and tibia are pulled out, sawed off, hollowed out and then the new parts are cemented in. Joint replacement is a gross and ghastly mutilation. I chose not to have a lifetime of limping, pain, eventual immobility or be crippled. The new parts give strength and a new life of mobility and less pain.

There are no works involved in accepting Christ! He gives Himself and His grace as free gifts!
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:4). (“Sanctification of life does not earn eternal life; it is still God’s gracious gift”).

You can have new parts and a new life! Your failed parts can be replaced! You don’t have to be crippled! “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). To receive Christ, admit you are a sinner and need a Savior, repent, believe Jesus Christ died for you on the cross, and receive through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life.

Verses and quotes are from the Ryrie Study Bible New American Standard Translation.