Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His spirit who lives in you.  Romans 8:10-11 HCSB

There is a commercial for a credit card that asks, “What’s inside your wallet”?  So let’s think about a wallet.  If you have ever had a wallet stolen then let me tell you that it costs a great deal more to replace the things inside the wallet.  You probably keep your driver’s license in your wallet so you have the expense of replacing that.  If you have credit cards in there, you have the time it takes to cancel them.  And of course, if you have money in there, you have lost that as well.

What’s inside is very important.  Take doors for example.  Some doors are hollow.  They are easily damaged when something bumps into them.  If you are going to take a drink from a cup or a glass, what’s inside is very important, right?

There is a young lady that goes to our church that is beautiful.  She is tall, slim, has a beautiful face and great hair.  She could probably model if she was ever so inclined.  But what makes her so incredibly beautiful is that she is just as beautiful on the inside.  She is very intelligent, but she also has a kindness in her heart that pours out.  When you speak with her, there is no hiding what’s on the inside.  The fact that Christ lives inside of her is very evident.  A rare and refreshing find in a 13 year old girl.

So, I ask you today what’s on the inside of you?  We like to think that we can keep hidden what is on the inside, but that is rarely the case.  You see whatever we are full of tends to spill out.  The bible tells us that the mouth speaks from an abundance of the heart (Matthew 12:34).  What ever we are full of will spill out.  It is not easily hidden.

The other thing to consider is the Spirit will not share space with the flesh.  You see if He is going to live on the inside of you, the flesh must die.  When Christ’s lives inside of us, we don’t want to sin.  We want to do the things that please Him.  Last week, I admitted that I was having a problem with an enemy.  Of course our Sunday school lesson for this past week was on loving your enemies.  Satan was trying to worm his way back inside with me, but I could not allow that to happen.  I had to pray to God to remove all bitterness and anger from me, and He did.  He is so faithful.  I have to rely on His strength and I have to pray for Him to continually fill me with His Holy Spirit.

I have lived a life in the flesh and I can tell you that it’s a roller coaster ride. Riding high as the sky one minute and down low the next.  I was happy to step off of that ride when it ended.  When I committed myself to Christ and asked Him to come and live in my heart, He brought peace and joy into my life.  I am happy and joyful regardless of my circumstances because I know how this story ends.  I know that I will truly live happily ever after.

So I ask you today, what’s on the inside?  If it’s not Christ living in you, then it needs to be.  Stop the roller coaster and get off the ride.  Live a life of steady peace and joy.  Live a life filled with the goodness of God.  Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.  Do you love the Lord and are you doing the work He has called you to do?  If so, have no worries and no fear.  God is working all things for your good and His glory.  Allow Christ to come and live inside your heart.  Allow Him to remove bitterness, heartache, and pain.  In doing so, you will allow those around you to see how awesome it is to have the Christ that God raised from the dead living inside of you.

Have a great day!