CHANGE

“But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – “2 Corinthians 3:18” King James 2000 version

The only thing really that enjoys change is a wet Baby

When God declared back in “Genesis 1: 3” – “Let there be light” He instigated the first restorational change that our planet Earth had ever known. It was foundational and on-going in its creativity.

Changed from Glory to Glory is the experience that Gods outworking of His sovereignty in our lives is producing. It is a Stage by Stage progression of Change that we are participating in.

The Universe that surrounds us on our small but beautiful rock since God brought it into being has been reproducing, adjusting, expanding and changing.

The big problem however, and the proverbial Elephant in the room is that we who are deemed to be the pinnacle of Gods creation ruined it and planet Earth has felt the repercussions of that sinful rebellion like a tsunami flooding over us all. No wonder the creation itself is “groaning” – “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy” – “Romans 8:22-25” The Message

Isn’t it wonderful therefore that amid all the ruination and change that our rebellion and on-going sin has produced that His grace has stepped into the midst of it and makes the change subject to His authority and divine sovereignty.

He sustains and holds all things together the Word of God declares – “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power….” – “Hebrews 1:3” – “All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” – “Colossians 1: 17” Berean Study Bible

Dr. R.C. Sproul has said, “One random atom or maverick molecule could throw everything back into chaos.”

John Calvin writes, “All things would instantly come to nothing, were they not sustained by his power. We depend on the Lord’s sustaining grace for every breath we take, every word we say, every move we make — for everything.”

He restrains His righteous judgement by the power of His compassion – “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” – “Lamentation 3:22” King James

As individual, we don’t like change – The only thing really that enjoys change is a wet Baby, but like it or not we are all subject to it and have to live with it.

• If we try to avoid it, then it arrives in another form.
• If we try to oppose it, then the very act of opposition is made the servant of it.

Therefore, we should “embrace it” and see what God creatively is generating from it.

So, if we are children of God, it is well at times to “step back” and to consider – “How is God changing me”, and “What is the seeds of change are producing”.

No child of God is spiritually infertile, and the Scriptures declare that God set in motion that we “…. Produce after our own kind” – “Genesis 1: 11” 

It is an immutable law of God stated at least ten times that everything God has created will produce after its own kind.

Nowhere in the history of Mother Earth has this divinely instituted law ever been challenged or changed. It’s a God’s ordered system, instituted and established by Him in creation. However, we never read the words “after your own kind” applied to man. Why? Because man is not just any creature. We are a unique creation; made in His image, yet the principle of reproduction is there in so many other ways, that we cannot miss the point being made.

The challenge that comes to my heart today is – “What are we re-producing?”

Every moment we live and breathe by our – “Attitudes, Actions, Aspirations, Thoughts and Motives” – we  re-produce something that is tangible and life changing. I might even say World Changing.

So again, I say – is – “What are we re-producing?”

• “Is it death by contamination or is it vibrant life”
• “Is it stagnation by Control or is it effervescent life”
• “Is it resistance producing a battle with His sovereignty or is it a surrendered life “

There are many things in life that are immutable. However, they never include God in the essence of who He is, His Promises and His Constancy.

There is no transition, inconsistency, recklessness or failed me YET as a popular worship song speaks of with our changeless God.

Truth is at work within us.  Truth as it is progressively unveiled and recognised changes us. It would be true to state today that truth and the change it births is: –

• Progressive in it’s In and Outworking
• Multidimensional in that it reaches into every level of human consciousness
• Growing in that whilst it remains unchangeable its revelation evolves as we grow in understanding in our relationship with it and our understanding of it. However, it never contradicts itself either in the theology it provides or its outworking of change in the lives it touches.

It is well for us to remember that “If we become more consumed by what He is doing, rather than who He is then we are significantly missing the point of what He is doing”.

Is God saying to us today as in “Deuteronomy 2:2-6” – “Then God said, “You’ve been going around in circles in these hills long enough; go north. Then we turned around and went back into the wilderness following the route to the Red Sea, as God had instructed me. We worked our way in and around the hills of Seir for a long, long time.” – The Message

If so, the unchanging nature of God and his unchangeable word are real things on which we can stake our life. His nature and His word are rocks big enough and strong enough for us to build a house on, and an anchor big enough and strong enough to hold our souls amid life’s waves and storms.

Things will continue to change — in the world around us and in our lives. Some of those changes will feel like a tiny ripple, and others feel like a ten-foot wave. But no matter what changes we face, we need not fear. We need not hide. We need not despair. Our rock and anchor is our unchanging God, whose character and promises remain fixed forever.

Because of these truths, when everything in life seems flipped upside down, we can say with the psalmist

“God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea storm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.” – “Psalm 46: 1-3” The Message

If you are going through it currently and your saying any of the following: –

• I’ve had enough hell in my life
• I’ve had enough fear and confusion
• I’ve had enough discouragement
• I’ve had enough lack
• I’ve had enough disappointment
• I’ve had enough rejection and betrayal
• I’ve had enough misery
• I’ve had enough shame.

I hope that we can Trust Him in the Midst of Change, pin our Hopes & Dreams on Him in the Midst of Turmoil and have our Confidence Sure & Steadfast in His Changelessness.

If your challenged at this time then let me hear you say, or even shout I’m ready for the change; I’m ready for the turnaround remembering.

He is a faithful god and He is full of faith in us. We have been destined in Him for fruitfulness and to have a fruit that will remain. We should not underestimate His actions in our lives as His plan although not clear in every detail is a plan devised in heaven and is bring outworked in our lives as we walk in Him. Therefore, recognise anew that His faith in us will not be disappointed.