Old vs. new

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Most Americans have a taste for the new. You only purchase a used car when you can’t afford a new one. When an appliance stops working or a piece of clothing rips, you are more apt to replace than to repair. After several years together, there are individuals who are ready to exchange the person they married for a partner who is fresh and new. As families grow, the older kids find themselves taking a back seat to the newer children when it comes to parental attention.

Thankfully, there are still people who appreciate old things. Some collect antiques. Others restore old cars or houses. I happen to love old books—I’d rather hold the paper in my hands and enjoy the smell of the pages than do my reading from a computer screen.

Sadly, our society has lost respect and affection for things that are old. In other parts of the world, senior citizens are valued for their wisdom and life experiences—but that’s not true in America. It used to be that we valued traditions, but these days most people have little contact with their heritage. The desire for what’s new and innovative has divorced us from the riches of the past.

This sad state of affairs also affects how people feel about the Church. Church life used to be pivotal—baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals were big events and well attended. The local church was a community center as well as a house of worship. People of all ages found common ground within its walls; the traditions handed down from one generation to the next bonded the members into a tight knit community.

These days, church seems old-fashioned, stuck in the past—as if that was something bad. Many fail to see the value of old things, because they assume that new is automatically better. But no human innovation can trump the unchangeable greatness of the LORD. God is immeasurably old, and He never changes—that’s a good thing. Age does not wear Him down because He is eternal. You can count on Him to keep His promises because the LORD does not change with the passing of time. Scripture says that His grace is new every morning, but each fresh start He gives us comes from His unchanging love and commitment to our welfare.