For a long time, I lived as if the bill collector was always right around the corner. I don’t mean a man from the bank looking for a car payment, though I’ve known those days too. I mean a spiritual bill collector. I lived with the constant, nagging feeling that I owed something I couldn't pay, and that at any moment, the "Grace Police" would show up to revoke my credentials because I hadn't been consistent enough or "holy" enough.



Maybe you know that feeling. It is the weight of living at the old address. You see, for most of our lives, we lived in the House of Adam. In that house, the roof leaks, the windows are broken, and the landlord is a taskmaster named Performance. In Adam’s house, you are only as good as your last mistake. But I have some wonderful news for you today: if you are in Christ, you have changed addresses.

When you move, the old landlord loses his legal right to harass you. You don’t live there anymore. You aren’t just a "fixed-up" version of your old self; you are a resident of a completely different kingdom. You are now living in the "Winners" house, and the atmosphere there is thick with something called Followed by Mercy.

The Debt of the Old Address

In the House of Adam, everything is based on what you do. It is a house of debt. You are born into a legacy of failure, and every day you spend there, the interest on that debt grows. You try to pay it off with your morning devotions, your church attendance, and your "good behavior," but the balance never seems to drop.

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

Consequently, when we think from the perspective of our old address, we are always afraid. We are afraid of being "found out." We are afraid that God is looking at us with a clipboard, marking down every time we lose our temper or every time we fail to pray. That is the DNA of the old house. It is a DNA of struggle and eventual defeat.

However, the gospel tells us that a massive transaction took place. Jesus didn’t just pay your rent for a month; He bought you a new home and moved you into it. He took you out of the lineage of the "Losers" and placed you into the lineage of the "Winners." This isn't about your winning; it's about His. Because He won, and you are in Him, you are now a resident of the House of Victory.

Understanding the Winners' House

What does it mean to live in the "Winners" house? It means you are living from the finished work of Jesus. In this house, the fridge is always full, the doors are locked tight against the enemy, and the Father is always glad to see you.

Colossians 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the world of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

Notice the word "translated." It means to be moved from one place to another. You didn't just get a coat of paint on your old life. You were picked up and set down in a new reality. Specifically, you were moved from a place of "not enough" to a place of "more than enough."

I spent years trying to earn my way into God’s favor. I became legalistic not because I hated grace, but because I loved God and was afraid of losing Him. I thought that if I stayed in the "Winners" house, I had to keep winning every single day. But that’s not how this house works. You are in the house because of the Host. The victory belongs to Jesus, and He has shared the keys with you.

“God is not disappointed in you. He is not measuring your worth by your consistency.”

When the Old Landlord Knocks

Even though you’ve moved, the old landlord, the Law, the accuser, your own guilt, will sometimes show up at your new front door. He will stand on the porch and shout through the mail slot, telling you that you still owe for all those years in Adam’s house. He will try to convince you that your identity is still "Sinner" rather than "Saint."

Therefore, you must learn to point to the new lease. You have to realize that you are safe in Christ. When the accusations come, you don’t have to defend your record. You point to His record. You are living from identity, not for it. This is the core of the truth about your identity in Christ.

If you’ve been struggling with the feeling that you are "behind" in your spiritual life, let me remind you of this sticky truth: You are not behind. You are not being graded. You are being held.

Followed by Mercy: The Hunter that Heals

In the old house, you were followed by judgment. In the new house, you are Followed by Mercy. I love the way the Psalmist describes this. It isn't a passive observation; it is a pursuit.

Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Think about that. Usually, when someone "follows" you, it feels like a threat. But in God's kingdom, the things chasing you are Goodness and Mercy. They are like two heavenly sheepdogs, nipping at your heels to keep you in the path of grace. Austin Gardner has seen this play out over fifty years of ministry: even when I tried to run away from God’s best, His mercy was faster than my rebellion.

“Mercy is not trailing behind you with conditions. It is running toward you with intention.”

When you changed addresses, your "shadow" changed. You no longer walk with a shadow of shame following you. You walk with the active, aggressive mercy of God pursuing you. This is the Hope we have in the New Covenant. It is a settled, warm confidence that God is for us, even when we are struggling to be for ourselves.

Resting in the New Residence

The biggest challenge of moving to a new house is unlearning the habits of the old one. If the floorboards in your old house were rotten, you might walk carefully in the new house, afraid you’ll fall through. But the foundation of the Winners' house is the Rock of Ages. You don't have to tiptoe around God.

“Rest doesn't come after you fix yourself. Rest comes first.”

You see, the big leap of faith is simply believing that God loves you exactly as you are, right now, in your new address. You don't have to "fix" the old house behavior before you can enjoy the new house blessings. The blessings of the new house are what actually give you the power to change your behavior. Loved people become loving people. Rested people become productive people.

Your Identity is Secure

If you are reading this and feeling the pressure to perform, take a deep breath. Look at the "address" on your spiritual heart. Does it say "Adam"? Or does it say "Christ"? If you have trusted in Jesus, you are officially a resident of Grace.

Your failures do not evict you. Your inconsistencies do not cancel your lease. The finished work of Jesus is a permanent change of address. You are safe. You are loved. And you are definitely followed by mercy today.

Romans 5:17 "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

You were meant to reign in life, not grovel in debt. You were meant to live in the light of the Father’s smile, not the shadow of the Law’s frown. So, stop looking back at the old house. Stop trying to pay bills that Jesus already settled. Settle into your new home. It’s a beautiful place, and the Host is waiting to walk with you.

Austin Gardner: A Voice of Hope

In my journey through Stage 4 Kidney Cancer and the many ups and downs of fifty years in the ministry, I have learned that the only thing that holds is the mercy of God. These tumors are not bigger than God’s grace. Your mistakes are not bigger than God’s grace. We are residents of a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and we are held by a Love that will not let us go.

If you want to dive deeper into what it means to live from this new identity, I encourage you to check out our resource library or listen to the latest episode of the Followed by Mercy podcast. There is so much more to discover about the goodness of the Father.

FAQ: Understanding Your Spiritual Address

Can I accidentally move back to the "Old House" of Adam?

No, your change of address is a permanent spiritual relocation performed by the Holy Spirit. While you might still "think" like a resident of the old house or fall into old habits, your legal standing and identity remain securely in Christ. The work of the Christian life is learning to live according to your new address, not trying to move back into the old one.

Does "Followed by Mercy" mean I can do whatever I want?

Living in the Winners' house changes your "want-to." When you truly realize that you are unconditionally loved and followed by mercy, you no longer want to live in the ways that caused you pain in the old house. Grace is not a license to sin; it is the only power that actually enables us to live a life of joyful, free obedience.

How do I stop feeling guilty about my past?

Guilt is often the "old landlord" knocking on your new door. When those feelings arise, remind yourself that the debt has been paid in full. You must interpret your past through the lens of the finished work of Jesus. He hasn't just covered your sins; He has removed them as far as the east is from the west. Rest in His performance, not your own.

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