Corrupted Data

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Romans 6:6 NKJV

We've all heard those stories of identity theft in this new computer age.  There's alot of people out there who have a large part of their lives in cyberspace.  This isn't surprising considering how much time most of us spend online.  Online footprints are almost impossible to erase.  I'm sure this isn't exactly what Al Gore had in mind when he invented the internet.  The price of being careless online can range from losing ones identity to losing your credit history.  Consequently, internet crimes are some of the most difficult to prosecute.  I certainly don't want to scare people out of the internet, but it's good to be safe also.
A few years back, there was a theory out there that simply "erasing" ones computer hard drive was adequate enough to protect someone from internet threats.  However, there is  just one problem with this approach.  Anyone with a semblence of computer know how knows that erasing ones computer hard drive does not erase the drive, but simply overwrites the hard drive disk with other data.  So, in theory, the original data is still accessible to someone who knows how to find it.  And yes, there are PLENTY of computer geeks out there who spend alot of time finding ways to steal data that someone supposedly "erased" from their hard drive.  This makes for a pretty interesting cat and mouse game between those who would steal someones identity and internet security designers.
In Romans 6:6, Paul reveals to us something of our new identity.  Paul assures us here that we, that is our former self, was crucified on that cross with Jesus.  What's important for we who are in Christ to realize here is that when Jesus shed his blood to put away the "body of sin" we once inhabited, he himself inhabited inside of us what he died to take away.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

Despite our new Identity with Jesus, many of us continue to dig up that corrupted data that Jesus died to put away forever.  There have been many times where I've conjured up old doubts and fears that were contrary to who I was in Jesus.  These old hurts, doubts, fears and worries that were part of our "old self" were what Jesus shed his very blood to do away with in us.  Now, as we who are in Christ are the very essence of our Lord Jesus in us, what need do we have to dig up those old bones of our former selves?  What possible need could we have for what Jesus gave his life to rid us of?  That old, corrupted data is just no longer useful for us.

~Scott~