Saturday, July 09, 2011

Change

I thought about the former days, the years of long ago (Psalm 77:5).

When we think about the past, usually we remember the happy times. The pictures in our photo albums celebrate people, places and events that were important to us—your best friend from grade school, the day you were confirmed, you first prom, high school graduation, your wedding day, your first house, the birth and baptism of your children. Most of us are convinced that the best music ever made came out during the years we were in high school. We hang on to mementos picked up on vacations. Many of us decorate our homes with antiques. Lots of our favorite TV shows from long ago are being made available for purchase on DVD. Many emails remind us of how things used to be in our youth and are nostalgic for ‘the good old days.’

Getting nostalgic about the past is like wrapping yourself up in a warm fuzzy blanket on a cold winter’s night. There are many days when the world seems confusing; there are too many choices and things are constantly changing. The news is full of crime, dishonesty, and conflict. All around us sex and drugs are misused and lives are ruined as a result. There is little respect for God and country. And when anyone dares speak up, they are told to mind their own business and be tolerant of what other people say and do. When we are confronted with such things, it is comforting to look back to the past and remember how much better things used to be when we were young.

But there is a problem with nostalgia—it suffers from selective memory. When we think about the past, we tend to avoid remembering things that hurt—the times that we were sick and had to take medicine that tasted awful, the times when loved ones let us down, the times we were scared or felt isolated and all alone. As we age, we sometimes get aggravated that our memory isn’t what it used to be. But forgetfulness is often a blessing from God, which frees us from the pains of long ago.

When we think about the past, we usually focus on the good and shy away from the bad; as a result, we tend to believe that the world is a worse place now than when we were young. But is that really true? Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look at the things we would rather forget…

Years ago, racial segregation was perfectly acceptable. I never even saw a black person until I was almost an adult. Back then, it was rare that a white person would work with a black as an equal partner. If a black person dated or married a white, people were horrified. Racial jokes were a normal part of daily conversation.

Years ago, the mentally retarded were objects of pity, made fun of, or hidden away. Many who were retarded were forcibly sterilized so that they could never have children.

Years ago, lots of people went to church. But some of them went only because a husband or wife made them, not because they wanted to be there. Others attended church mainly because they wanted to be seen as respectable. And many churchgoers never read a Bible at home or brought a guest along with them to worship.

Years ago, no one acknowledged domestic abuse. Wives with bruises made up excuses to explain their injuries, and rarely left the men who hurt them. There was no such thing as child abuse; families were almost never broken up by Social Services, regardless of what went on behind closed doors.

Years ago, many diseases had no viable treatment options. Polio was especially feared as a crippler of children, and a diagnosis of cancer was a death sentence.

Years ago, smoking was a sign of sophistication and drinking proved how tough you were.

Years ago, smart kids were made fun of and sometimes got beaten up. Girls were expected to not be fat, not be skinny, not be tall, not be short, have no freckles and not need glasses. A deep tan could make people suspicious of your racial heritage.

Years ago, you never tattled on a classmate, no matter what kind of trouble or harm he caused.

Years ago, women unable to find a husband were expected to be nurses, teachers or secretaries.

Years ago, you could not have a personal conversation on the telephone unless you had enough money to pay for a private line.

Years ago, food produced hundreds of miles away was a rare treat at the grocery store.

Years ago, only the well-to-do had air conditioning.

Years ago, some people still didn't have indoor plumbing.

Years ago, children born out of wedlock were made to feel as if the sin was theirs.

Years ago, no one worried about air pollution or deforestation; such things were 'signs of progress.'

Years ago, it was 'America, right or wrong' and you were a traitor if you spoke up against government policy.

Years ago, sin was just as big a problem as it is today. People misused God’s name, disobeyed their parents, got into bloody fights, had secret affairs, stole things, and told lies. People sinned, came to church for mercy, then went right back out to sin some more. If you think that the world is a worse place now than it was years ago, consider this—your sins are contributing to the problem! The people you voted for have shaped public policy into what it is today. The children you raised have inherited your sinful nature and repeat the sins they learned at your feet while growing up. If you don’t like the way this world is going, guess what? You had a hand in making it this way. Paul says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Somehow, we have gotten the notion that change is bad. But did you ever stop to consider that Christianity is a religion of change? Think about it. The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. Which part do you prefer reading, the old or the new? If you think change is bad, then you shouldn’t like the New Testament—in it, Jesus changed the way God deals with us. Under the old covenant, we were slaves to God’s Law. Under the new covenant, Jesus has made us children of God by faith, not obedience. The new relationship with God forged by Christ is superior to what had been previously in effect, as the writer to the Hebrews points out: The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God…Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:18-19, 22).

Jesus is an agent of change. He changed the way people are saved from sin and brought to heaven. Instead of having to obey page after page of regulations, salvation has been made simple: if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).

Jesus is an agent of change. He changes us from lost and condemned sinners to forgiven and believing children of God. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:21-22). Jesus has changed us so radically that Paul writes, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5).

Jesus is an agent of ongoing change. Change does not end when we become followers of Christ; instead, Jesus calls on us to continually change as we go through life. In 1 Peter chapter 4 the apostle writes, As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." But attaining holiness is a long-range goal, one we can never fully achieve in this life. And so Hebrews chapter 10 says that when Jesus had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Every day we are to change, leaving behind the ways of the sinful world for the righteous ways of God.

Jesus calls on us to change, but God says, I the LORD do not change (Malachi 3:6). God’s unchanging nature is a comfort to us, especially when change fills our lives with stress. God’s justice does not change; this means that the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins will be valid forever. God’s love does not change; this means that He will always forgive those who seek forgiveness in the name of Jesus. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever; when you trust Him as your Savior, you can have confidence that Jesus will always be there for you.

Things change. There were good things in the past, there are good things to be found today. The world around us is corrupt with sin; the same was true when we were young. Things change—sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better. Thankfully, our Lord does not change—you can always count on His perfect power, wisdom, and love. Thankfully, our Lord helps us to change, to shake off the sins of the past and work toward becoming more forgiving, more patient, more generous. Change can be bad, or change can be good; but since change is inevitable, seek God’s help in order to make the best of it.

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