CHANGE

What should change mean to us?  To reform, re-shape, to re-direct or alter the course of events, to re-mould an element with the view to improving it.  Change portrays the image of new beginnings and is an indication of leaving behind the old and embracing the new status.  Sometimes, we realise that our current state could and should be better.  We wish to leave old and stale things, such as dysfunctional relationships, jobs, habits, etc. behind and cleave to the freshness, which God promises us.  This realization may be a result of the new knowledge, which we have acquired about our covenant.

 A righteous being cannot remain in the same condition and expect to make progress.  We must evolve and become renewed and refreshed.  We need to become dynamic in order to truly live effectively.  We cease to grow when we do not embrace change.  We must be malleable, fluid and pliable in the hands of the Master.  With this thought in mind, let us examine the dynamics of change, which we may experience as Christians.

 Change may occur in various ways, such as Spiritual, Physical or Emotional.  The reasons for this process are wide-ranging but in essence, a touch from God promotes a transformation and causes a ripple effect in us and our surroundings.

 Spiritual

Psalm 23 says, ‘…he restores my soul…’  God refreshes us spiritually.  He soothes us spiritually to ensure that we may attain the ‘rest’ that He promised us.  Psalm 51:10 says, ‘…renew a steadfast spirit within me…grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…’  The bible tells us that the righteous man falls 7 times, but arises.  Were he to stay down, he would ‘die’ in his fallen state.  Likewise, we must arise, dust ourselves off and turn away from the situation which served as a catalyst for our spiritual fall.

 Physical

The bible reveals that all our ailments were healed because of Christ’s sacrifice.  Therefore any illness, which has been deemed hopeless can be healed.

 Emotional

Isaiah 61:3 says, ‘…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair…’

 We can only go through this process when we are wholly committed to God and we resolve to live a life of sacrifice.  Job 8:7 says, ‘…though the beginning was small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase…’

We serve a God, who causes us to continually eat bread at the King’s table.  We are privileged.  He makes the sun stand still to enable us to defeat the enemy.  He is the God, who initiates the transformation and ensures that we live an optimum life as a result of it.

 Just as our spirit, body and emotions are subject to change, God also effects change in our surroundings.  He alters us and enables us to positively influence our environment.  In other cases, He divinely intervenes to instigate a turn around.  Nahum 1:15 says, ‘…no more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed…’

 The truth is that we need to conceive  this change, believe in it, speak it and then we will achieve it.  Isaiah 50:4 says, ‘…God has given us the tongue of the learned…’  Use it!  We must use it to effect unprecedented change in our life.

 God’s approach is holistic in the sense that He does not leave any area untouched.  He alters every anomaly to enable us to fulfill our destiny.  Nahum 2:2 says, ‘…the Lord will restore the splendour of Jacob like the splendour of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines…’

 He is the God of the zero hour and when we least expect it, God interrupts Chronos with a Kyros moment.  We may not always be aware of change because it may be a long-term and gradual process.  Therefore, as Christians, we must actively seek change and have faith that we will experience it.  We must prepare for it and determine to operate differently when a paradigm shift is imminent.

 Let’s ponder on the question: why should a Christian embrace change?  We are human and therefore prone to error.  In our quest to succeed in life and become Christ-like; in order to keep our vow to live right, we need to embrace change wholeheartedly.

 This year is deemed to be our year of rest.  The things, which previously plagued us cannot continue to do so as God is effecting a turn around.