If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

— Romans 6:5

When I have a cold or the flu, I am more aware of my body than I usually am. Symptoms such as coughs, fevers, aches, and chills cannot be ignored. Sickness makes me aware of what’s wrong, and it makes me long for healing.

When we are honest with ourselves, we can see that sin is still present in our lives. We are tempted to sin, and we often fall into it and need to ask for forgiveness. And when we think about eternal life, we imagine a future when our lives will be sin-free. But there is more. In Christ, we are ­already being made new!

An important truth about Christ’s death and resurrection is that by believing in God’s power to save us, we die to our old life of sin, we are baptized with Christ into his death, and we are raised with him to “live a new life” by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ death our sins have been paid for, and in his resurrection we are led by the Spirit to live a forgiven life, a grateful life.

We are not stuck in a spiritual waiting room suffering from spiritual sickness. We are already receiving the necessary healing that allows us, in God’s strength, to resist sin and to live in gratitude, sharing God’s love with others. In Christ’s death we have died to sin, and by his resurrection we are being made new.

Lord Jesus, help me to see that your death and resurrection take my sin away and give me new life. I want to live more fully for you, knowing my sin is defeated and I am being made new. Amen.