A new creation?

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come."  2 Corinthians 5:17

Jake and Drew are playing basketball with the Upward Basketball League this year.  Upward is a church league and each week the boys learn a Bible verse.  This past week they learned 2 Corinthians 5:17.  We even have a CD with music to each verse to be learned.  During half-time of the game, one of the pastor's on staff shares a few comments on the weekly verse.  He gave a beautiful illustration on what a "new creation" looks like...

When a child is adopted by a family they immediately have three new qualities:

A new name.
A new inheritance.
A new security.

It is the same with us...when we enter into a relationship with God, through faith in His Son, Jesus, we are a new creation.  We are adopted into a rich heritage.  What a fresh reminder of the benefits of our relationship with our Heavenly Father!