I recently took my old car to Jeff Jordan. He replaced the ugly damaged parts with beautiful new ones. I love the way it looks!
Your reputation is how you look to other people. It includes who you are, not just how you look. Can that be changed? Yes, but you’ll need help to get it done.
My favorite pop/country musician is Glen Campbell. He was a fabulous guitar player with a beautiful, soothing voice. He made a fortune singing and playing, and selling records to millions. Phil Driscoll wrote a song for him, summing up his reputation, or life story. It goes like this:
“I have sung for kings and queens all around the world
I have romanced millions with my guitar and the love song
Taj Mahal to Paris, Galveston to Hollywood
I thought I had done it all then I met You
Now I’m singin’ a new song
Makin’ music for Jesus my King
He is my hero
He’s become my everything
Now there’s no other song
No higher melody
Under heaven, the greatest love story
Jesus and me.”
“People call me a winner
But I know what it means to lose
I’ve seen some high times
I’ve paid some dues
Payin’ dues just isn’t enough
Nothin’ seemed to satisfy me
Until I met Jesus
I’ll tell you He’s alive
And I am free”
Jesus is the only one who can take away all your damaged parts and replace them with new ones. The Bible calls this “imputation.” When Jesus came, He said, “I came to seek and to save those who are lost.” Jesus lived the sinless life which you and I cannot live. Then He died to pay the penalty for our sin. By faith, you can have Christ’s righteousness imputed to you. Your reputation will change, like my old car.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Ed Hill, Franklin