‘Change is here to stay whether we like it or not.’
Change for some can be so exciting, while for others it can be their worst nightmare causing a very real issue in their heart and mind. I recall just how different our children were in this particular area. My son Ben was thirteen years old when we moved to Bristol on a beautiful Saturday in September 1992 and was to begin attending his new senior school on the Monday. Off he went full of confidence and excitement at all the possibilities for the future with no fear or uncertainty. He met a young man that first day who turned out to be a distant relative in our family and a Christian. They became firm friends; how amazing God is. My two girls were quite different from each other. My eldest daughter, Rachel, much preferred things to remain the same. Knowing how things would be and what she would have to face and handle was like a safety net to her, while my youngest daughter handled change face on and embraced all that a new challenge can bring.
When Abraham was called to leave his earthly father’s house and go to a land God would show him it involved several faith steps that we at times mirror in our walk with the Lord. God knew the end from the beginning but Abraham had to move in faith. This involved several facets we would do well to practice.
- He had to trust in the sovereign Word of His heavenly Father, not knowing what he would face on route.
- He had to set off resting in the knowledge God had communicated to him.
- He had to believe in the promise of God: God had spoken saying; ‘I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you’.
This promise for Abraham was not just a prophetic Word for himself and his earthly offspring it was an eternal prophesy concerning Jesus because God was speaking of the blessing that would come through Christ. This included every person who would take the step of faith to trust in the sovereign will of the Father, rest in the Knowledge of God and believe in the promise of God.
For the New Testament disciples everything was about to change as Jesus began to speak about having to go away, even though He also promised He would return. The early disciples had no understanding that Jesus would not return for over two thousand years, after all Jesus had said to them; ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me again.’ Jesus may well have been referring to them seeing Him before the ascension in His resurrected state, however, two thousand years of time when measured in the light of eternity is a little while.
The early disciples had to learn and mature in the faith quickly and handle change in an environment of persecution. In the UK the hardship we have had to face is nothing when compared with those who live in countries where real persecution has broken out. The early Church was not concerned with establishing a comfortable life and secure future, although we must have wisdom and plan wisely, they ‘loved not their lives unto death.’ The changes we desire are not the changes that come through the influence of man, but that which comes through the influence of God. We can transition together into the new things God has for us as the family of HICC and embrace change without fear because our faith and trust is in the Lord.
