I am living in the land of more and less. I know what I used to be, and I hear how people relate to me now. They don’t recognize me as the man I once was. For that I am profoundly grateful. I know Harry 1.0. He is diminishing as the upgrades go forward. Luckily most have met Harry 2.0, the “after salvation” Harry, the improved and improving version. I’m now living in the land of more and less.

I have more of the qualities I want and less of the qualities I detest, even though those bad qualities still exist in me. I have become more honest, more trustworthy, more sincere, more thoughtful of others, less angry, less hateful, less selfish, less bitter, more forgiving, more tolerant, and the list goes on. This is the gift of God to me. Every bit of this change can be traced to my salvation and my relationship with Jesus. He has been working steadfastly to reduce the bad and increase the good. I am cheering for his success and praying for the strength not to resist His efforts on my behalf. I am excited to see God’s final reveal of His renovation project in me.

Jesus is not apposed to tearing out walls, ripping up tile, and replacing all the fixtures in His renovating. I am the house being renovated and testify that the work is worthy but painful. Jesus knows what has to be done. He has a plan. Some rooms get renovated more than once before getting to the “better/more” state because the renovation goes forward in stages. Every stage increases the more desirable and decreases the less desirable.The Lord is teaching me to set my mind and heart on the continuous process being continuously changing. He will complete the renovation someday. Until that day, I live in the land of growing more and less.