Most of us don’t like change. We like things to remain just as they are.
Unfortunately — or rather fortunately for us — we serve a God of change!
He brought about great change with the creation of this world.
In Genesis 1:1-5, we read —
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. {2} Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. {3} And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. {4} God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. {5} God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
In the days that would follow, God would go on to create the sky and dry land and then separate the dry land from the seas. He would create plants and trees, the sun, moon, and stars. And once He had finished creating all the living creatures, including Adam and Eve, He pronounced it all “good” (Genesis 1:31).
There has never been a time in history where there was as much dramatic change as there was during those six days of creation.
But He didn’t stop there!
God then set about to create a people — Israel — from whom would come the Messiah (Numbers 24:17-19). At first, God guided them through patriarchs (i.e. the male head of a large family) like Adam, Noah, and Abraham. Then Moses came along and received the law of God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19 -24). From that point on, God spoke through Moses and, later still, the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-2).
But He didn’t stop there!
The Law of God with its system of sacrifices and worship were given in preparation for what was to come (Galatians 3:24).
As the Writer of Hebrews declares in Hebrews 8:6-10 —
“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. {7} For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. {8} But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The days are coming’, declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. {9} It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. {10} This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ ”
When Jesus came He did, in fact, usher in this new age. The age of grace! Where we no longer need to go through a priest to get to God as they did in the Old Testament, but can ourselves “boldly approach the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Praise God!
We can have a relationship with God which generations before could only dream about. And this dramatic change was made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross.
As the oft-quoted verse proclaims loudly for all to hear:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Praise God!
But He won’t stop there!
He wants to change you. He wants to completely transform your heart and life.
Romans 12:1-2 says,
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. {2} Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
God can transform us through His Word.
And when God transforms something, it is always for the better. The change He ushers in will always lead to a better life — here and in eternity.
Don’t fear it. Don’t turn away from it. Don’t resist it. Embrace it!
Let God transform your marriage!
Let God transform your heart!
Let God transform your relationships with others!
I get it. I know we don’t like change, but we have to consider what we’re missing out on if we do not change.
Consider this: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When it comes to this kind of change, I say — “Bring it on!”
Comments