The Old Man is strong, set in his ways.
He likes what he likes and he does what he does.
He can do what he wants.
He can love what he wants.
He can say what he wants.
He has many friends.
He influences many.
The song in his heart is a melody of survival and triumph.
No one really questions him as long as they are not affected.
He has set a pace that moves along with the wind.
Going this way and that and making changes and improvements along the way.
The Old Man is not a bad guy, necessarily.
He just wants what he wants and does what he wants to do.
He doesn’t harm anyone, usually.
He’s just going about his life, focused on what he can attain.
He looks for respect, love, and honor from others.
Then he is happy, content, satisfied.
That man does not need God.
He never will.
Sometimes that Old Man does things he’s not supposed to.
He brushes himself off and moves along.
He dwells within us, he is our flesh.
He tries to rule and reign, even once we have chosen to follow Christ.
There is no one who can push him aside if we choose to honor the Old Man instead of Christ.
The Old Man is familiar.
He’s not that bad, in fact, he’s a pretty good guy.
His home is in the most prominent spot.
We are used to him. We are used to his ways.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:
Colossians 3:9-10
The Old Man must go. The Old Man must also honor Christ.
While we are used to him, he cannot stay. He must leave.
Otherwise, we cannot be used by God to fulfill His purpose in our lives.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
Honoring Christ above the Old Man will bring us to the place of obedience.
Cast down those old thoughts and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Walk in the newness of life given to each of us.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5