“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15)
The new birth is the start of a radical reorientation in one’s life. It changes who we are living for. The chief characteristic of one who is spiritually dead is that they are living for themselves. Although they may appear charitable, there is a deep root of self-serving that cannot be shaken. To be born again is to pass from death to life; from the religion of “ME-ism” to the true worship of God.
When we are in Christ and Christ is in us we receive a new life that we no longer spend on ourselves. “Henceforth,” the world does not revolve around us. Christ is the center of our world. Pleasing Him is more important than pleasing ourselves. Whatever idols we formerly obsessed over are replaced by a passion to know Him. The itch to be seen and praised by others is consumed by a desire to have Him seen and praised.
Those who have not been born again don’t have eyes to see the King of kings or His kingdom. They are captivated by the things of the world, and they want the world to be captivated by them. To behold the beauty of Christ is to exclaim, “He must increase! I must decrease!” It is to declare that He alone, and no man, is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.
How glorious it is when we are fulfilling the very purpose for which we were created – to worship God, and none other!