(Malachi 3:6)
The word "change" became a viral buzz word during the recent United States Presidential election. Much change was promised, and, less than a week after the inauguration of the nation's 44th President, much change has already been set into motion.
Change for the sake of change, however, can be reckless--useless at best and dangerous at worst, and any change that leads away from God's Truth is headed for disaster.
Used as a noun ("We need change!" or "Change is on the way!"), the word "change" is defined as "a transformation or modification; a variation or deviation; a substitution; absolute caprice". The one consistent attribute of change is its inconsistency, and while the world may be in a constant state of flux, there is one certainty that remains changeless:
"Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever."
yesterday and today and forever."
(Hebrews 13:8)
Throughout God's Word, His character is immutable, invariable, and unalterable. He is faultless and faithful, sure and steadfast, trustworthy and true. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19).
Beloved, the only change needed is a turning of our hearts--away from the deceit and distortion of the enemy and towards the Truth of God. Throughout history and throughout His Word, He graciously gives warnings and opportunities for change:
" 'Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror,' declares the LORD."
(Jeremiah 2:11-12)
" 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions ... If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.' "
(Jeremiah 7:5-8)
(Jeremiah 7:5-8)
" 'Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will stop to ask how you are? You have rejected Me,' declares the LORD. 'You keep on backsliding. So I will lay hands on you and destroy you; I can no longer show compassion. I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I will bring bereavement and destruction on My people, for they have not changed their ways.' "
(Jeremiah 15:5-7)
"And He said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and come like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' "
(Matthew 18:3)
Throughout history and throughout God's Word, godly leaders also warned and encouraged the people about correct change ... and interceded on their behalf:
"And if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with You in the land of their conquerors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to You with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to You toward the land You gave their fathers, toward the city You have chosen and the temple I have built for Your Name; then from heaven, Your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive Your people, who have sinned against You; forgive all the offenses they have committed against You, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy."
(King Solomon, 1 Kings 8:47-50;
see also 2 Chronicles 7:37-39)
see also 2 Chronicles 7:37-39)
"God, Who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them--men who never change their ways and have no fear of God."
(King David, Psalms 55:19)
God's Word also reminds and warns us about the ungodly leaders among us:
"For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace f our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. ... These men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals--these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm--shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted--twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: 'See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.' These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, 'In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.' These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."
(Jude 4-23)
Precious ones, making incorrect change is a life-altering error. Calculating the necessary and correct change is a life-saving choice, when it's made on the foundation of an unchangeable God. Count the cost today, and you won't find yourself shortchanged in the end.
Precious Father, I thank and praise You that in this constantly and crazily changing world, You remain the same and do not "change like the shifting shadows" (James 1:17)! Please give Your children eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to discern Your unchangeable Truth. Lord, let us search our hearts for the only kind of change that You desire--repentance and a return to righteousness. Let us stand on Your solid foundation, secure in the knowledge that "The Lord knows those who are His" (reference 2 Timothy 2:19). I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Who is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)! Amen.
We will not all sleep,
but we will all be changed
in a flash,
in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound,
the dead will be raised imperishable
and we will be changed."
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
For further reflection on this topic, see also ...
Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.
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