Well, I finally did it.  If my wife is reading this she will have a smile on her face in just a bit.  So, honey, you can say I told you so, but don’t rub it in too much.  Last Christmas I was given a pine-type tree with some cute red bows tied on the branches.  I put the tree in the room next to my office by the window.  I tried to take care of it, but in the end it dried up.  If I bumped one of the small branches they would just break off.  But I was not about to let it go.  When the weather got nice I brought it outside in hopes that the sunshine and plenty of water would bring it back to life.  My wife kept telling me, "let it go…it’s dead."  But I refused.  I held on to my tree.  I did not want to see it go…until today.  I walked outside this morning and saw my tree lying on its side.  The wind blew it over.  I decided then that it was time.  I threw my tree onto my compost heap that is going to be taken care of very soon.  My tree is dead(Ok. honey, let me have it).

When Jesus died, he came to kill the "old self" or known as the "old Adam/Eve"; our captivity to sin, death and the devil.  But for some reason we try to hold onto that old self.  We think it is still alive when it is dead.  Maybe the "old self" is more fun(sin can be that way you know).  Maybe we are afraid of what Jesus requires of the "new self".  Maybe, just maybe we want to be in control.  But when Jesus died and then rose from the grave he came to bring us a new life; a new life far better than that one we had.  Sin, death and the power of Satan is dead.  We are no longer captives, but we are free.  So let it go…it’s dead.  You are alive forever in Christ. Amen!