Change?

This is what the LORD says - he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

(Isaiah 43:16-19)

We have seen some radical changes in America over the past 100 years. For instance, in 1908, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was only 47 years (compared to about 78 years today); only 14 percent of homes had a bathtub; 8 percent of homes had a telephone; $11.00 was the cost of a 3-minute long distance call from Denver to NYC; and the average wage was 22 cents per hour, so that 3 minute phone call would have cost the equivalent of five hours of labor. In 1908 women washed their hair about once a month using either Borax or egg yolks for shampoo! 100 years ago there were only 8,000 cars in America and 141 miles of paved road. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. 95 percent of babies were born at home and only 6 percent of Americans were high school graduates. In 1908 there were a total of 230 murders reported in the entire U.S. (Cities like Los Angeles, New York & Chicago all average more than 500 per year by themselves today). And this may blow your mind, but 100 years ago, more people were moving from the U.S. to Mexico than from Mexico to the U.S.!

Nothing is as constant as change in our world. Some of those changes are good and others are not. But one thing is for certain; change is going to happen. Now that’s an intimidating thought to some, while others embrace it with a positive outlook. As followers of Jesus Christ we can all take great comfort in the unchanging nature of our God. But at the same time we need to be willing to adapt to our changing times and not look forward to the future with fear.

It’s sad, but the older we get the more we seem to resist and oppose change. Once, when the disciples of Jesus were arguing about who was the greatest, Jesus took a child and placed him before them and taught a timeless principle about change. He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you CHANGE and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, nothing changes in your spiritual destination unless you are first willing to embrace change. Children don’t fret over every little change that comes their way. They look forward to the future with anticipation and a sense of expectation. Jesus wants a youthful, hope-oriented quality to remain part of our daily life. We’ve all probably known 75 year-olds who were able to maintain youthful, childlike qualities as they aged. They embrace the changes, which come their way and they age with grace. And we also probably know people who become so change resistant and critical that they become difficult to love.

In the passage above we are told that our unchanging God is constantly looking for ways to bring change into our lives. In the passage God is saying, “Stop living in the past and start looking for and anticipating the new things I’m doing in the world and in your life.” One of the greatest events in Jewish history was when Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt. God made a pathway through the Red Sea for His people. And when Pharaoh and his army chased Moses into the Sea, the waves crashed down on them and destroyed the greatest army of the ancient world - talk about a memorable event! There were those who would look backward and fondly remember how God had brought miraculous change into their lives, but those miracles occurred years and years ago. They had confidence in a God who had done marvelous things in the past, but they were not expecting God to do anything great and new in their present. The Lord was saying to them, “Sure I did that in the past, but forget the former things, don’t dwell on it. I don’t want you living off of yesterday’s memories. I’m doing a new thing today, can’t you see it?” Sometimes we can get so focused (read “stuck”) on what God did in the past that we miss seeing what He is doing in the present.

Our wonderful God is still in the business of bringing new things to our world. Some people think Christianity is all about the “old time religion” but really it should be about experiencing “a new time faith!” The Bible teaches that “His mercies are new every morning!” Now pay close attention class: I’m not talking about a new message – that’s heresy. There is only one message rooted in the ancient words of the Bible, one name by which we must be saved, one God, one Living Word, one unchanging Gospel. But that ancient message still has an amazing power to bring newness to people’s lives every single day, regardless of the changes that come our way. At the last supper Jesus announced a new covenant through His blood. We read about it in a New Testament, we enter it through a new birth, we become a new creation in Christ, and when we’re baptized, we’re raised to walk in newness of life. The Bible says one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. And on the last page of your Bible in Revelation 21:5 Jesus proclaims, “Behold, I make all things new!” God enjoys doing new things, so we shouldn’t be afraid of change!

Change is going to happen whether we want it to or not. Some of those changes will be good. Some of those changes won’t be good. But regardless of the nature of the changes which come your way, you can face them with boldness and power as you trust God for the new things he wants to do in your life.

Live the Victorious Life,
PT