DEVOTION / School air vs old-Adam-air

School air

If you are of a certain age, you probably don't know the term "school air."

Teens know it, though. Especially teens who watch TikTok.

School air happens when -- after you leave home with every hair in place, with all your clothes wrinkle-free and color-coordinated -- the air in the school transforms your hair into a rat's nest and your clothing into a rag heap.

I won’t guess how much of that transformation is faulty perception or how much is the result of school air. But it does remind me of a perceived transformation I can wrestle with. Perhaps you do, too.

Old-Adam-air

We Christians can suffer from a similar phenomenon. Let's call it old-Adam-air.

• We listen to God's Word assure us, God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV).

  • But our old Adam shouts over God's Word, "You are far from righteous. Your sin and guilt demand God's angry punishment."

• We listen to God's Word assure us, God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV).

  • But our old Adam shouts over God's Word, "You have nothing. You are poverty-stricken, powerless, and pitiful."

• We listen to God's Word assure us, See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1, NIV).

  • But our old Adam shouts over God's Word, "You can't be a child of God. You are not worthy. You are a failure. You deserve all the shame you feel."

Stand up to the lie

In this spiritual tug-of-war, refuse to give into the dishonesty of old-Adam-air. Call out his lies for what they are: deception, misrepresentation, fallacy. Trust the truth. The Savior who endured your hellish punishment on the cross to give you heaven says about his Father's Bible, "Your Word is truth." Trust him.