What Do You Do With Change?

Change is one thing we all have in common, the one thing we can count on
Change is inevitable, inescapable, and not easy when we’re challenged with new territory or changes we didn’t ask for? How do we respond to change? Change is part of God’s plan in history and in our personal lives. There are changes in the:

Heart - the scriptures reveal that to have personal relationship with God and be part of His family a personal heart change needs to take place. (Eze.36:26: 2 Cor. 5:17)

Mind - If our hearts and minds are not constantly changing and renewed we won’t be amazed by God’s grace. (Rom.12:2)

Culture - Not a revelation here, look at the unprecedented rapid change in our own world today from IT, social media to the various answers to the world’s problems. In Jesus’ day he was accused of being a nonconformist, defiling the Sabbath and being a friend of sinners. He pushed back on the religious system of his culture when he said, “You’ve heard it said of old, but I say to you…”

He told the religious leaders, “You teach the traditions of men as the commands of God.” Not exactly a way to win friends and influence people. Jesus’ advent changed everything! The Jews were in a fervent uproar, Jerusalem was upside down and the Romans were on edge. The gospel was revolutionizing hearts for Jews, Romans, Greeks, Asians, Europeans and Africans.

Church – The early church changed from Saturday Sabbath to Sunday worship, from an underground persecuted church, to an institution, to a global movement. And when the church desperately needed reform God brought the Reformation.

The word of God became the ultimate authority rather than the church and the Reformation’s ‘sola fide’ – salvation comes by faith alone, changed not only European monarch’s deference to Rome, but the peasants and the entire world. The Reformation and the first printing press unleashed the scriptures to the common people and began to be translated in countless languages.

Leadership – We hear the endless mantras of politicians promising changes in the role of government, immigration, the IRS, health care and the way we understand and fight terrorism. We’ve heard all about hope and change and to make America great again. It has been said, “Change is inevitable, but misery is an option.” Being that change is unavoidable what can you and I do to learn from it?  

Change our attitude about the changes we can’t control

God continuously reminded Israel as He reminds us today that His future is better than any past that we’ve ever experienced. (Jer. 33:3; Haggai 2:7-9) Do you think that the good ole days were exaggerated? Can you believe that your present or future can be better than your past?

Let go of the past and move forward

Living in the past is not very exciting. If only change would stay away from those places that are sacred to us that would be great, but many times the most difficult things to give up are those things we have identified as God’s blessings.

For many our crisis is the place where we meet God, the intersection where our desperation meets God’s intervention. God calls us to take the memories, but leave the trinkets behind.

We can learn what not to do from the Israelites’ wilderness journey who limited their future by living in the past instead of the challenge of a new tomorrow! Like the Hebrews, if you stay stuck in the past you relinquish your future. Don’t be stuck in a time warp, your future is waiting! There is hope. Today can be the beginning of a new chapter in your history.

After forty years of wandering the Hebrews were finally about to enter the ‘promised land’ their new leader Joshua said to them,

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:7-9

Regarding the theme of change I highly recommend Dr. Henry Cloud’s book ‘Necessary Endings.’