Change is inevitable
John C. Maxwell said “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." – (Matthew 18:3)
Thinking of their own innovation, the disciples asked, who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? This question followed closely a prediction that Jesus would die. The Lord said that He was going to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill Him, but He will rise again on the third day (Matthew 16:21). Convinced that Jesus was the Messiah but not understanding how He could literally rise again, the minds of the disciples were focused exclusively on the idea that somehow He was about to set up the Messianic kingdom. Though Jesus had recently declared it impossible to follow Him except in self-renunciation (Mathew 16:24), here they were looking forward to becoming chiefs of state in His kingdom and they wished to know who should have the highest office.
A Worldly ambition of disciples But the Lord Jesus said, 'You are going in the wrong direction. You are thinking in terms of earthly glory, in terms of power, fame, wealth, honor, position. I am going in the opposite direction. I am going to an earthly death and humiliation.'
Greatness in the view of men differs much from greatness in the sight of God. The disciples could not see that Jesus came, not to glorify Himself, but to humble Himself. Because that was the only way salvation could be accomplished. This self-humbling is called the 'narrow road' in the Sermon on the Mount. The disciples' question gave Jesus an opportunity to teach them something completely unexpected. He reverses their perspective of greatness by this paradox: If you want to be the greatest, you have to be the least. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The point is that spiritual greatness requires humility, which is defined here by a radical change of orientation in a person's life.
Regardless of the individual or institution change is an inevitable factor in the life-cycle of any enterprise. Change can be one of the most stressful things in life, even when the change is desired. Human nature naturally resists it. Of course, we know that change is inevitable. We face change as we mature, as our bodies’ age, and as we interact with the world. We also know that change, in the Christian life, is desirable. In fact, it is God’s plan for us. He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5), and the old is dispensed with. We want to become more like Christ;
When we begin to follow the will of God, we must be prepared to be stripped of those influences that may deter us from righteousness, we must be ready to move when God asks us, and we must be willing to do it no questions asked. Nothing worth having is ever free or easily obtained, but the reward is well worth the work. Change does not necessarily mean a change of scenery. A change of heart, belief, or thought is sometimes required when following God's will. God is preparing us for a transcendent move of spirit. You are growing in Him. This inevitably brings about change on many levels.
Bible says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:1
Change is inevitable…. Change is a Process.... Change comes to all of us-whether we prepare for it or not. Our lives are in a constant state of transition. Life is always moving forward; nothing ever remains the same. To move forward, you have to leave the past behind. There is no standing still because time is moving forward. To a greater or lesser degree, we are continually being changed--whether suddenly or gradually--into the new, the different, the unexpected, or the untried. Everything in this world is liable to change and it is the law of life. If you don't change your life; your life will change you. The only constant in life is change, Think of the aging process. No matter how hard you try, or what anti-wrinkling creams you use, you will not look the same, at 60-years-old, as you did at the age of twenty.
Health may give place to sickness,
pleasure may give place to pain,
plenty may give place to poverty,
love may give place to enmity,
honor may give place to disgrace,
strength may give place to weakness,
and life may give place to death.
The process never ends until we die. How do people feel about so much change?
All of this change brings uncertainty, fear, feelings of spinning out of control.
Mankind has always faced uncertainty, along with pain, hardship and tragedy. A big difference between olden times and today is that in the past people looked to God to help them through difficult times which gave them an explanation of the crisis. But for many people today, that doesn't sound logical answer anymore. When the basic belief system erodes away, people generally do not cope as well with change and stress. So what has caused our world to change so rapidly in recent years? Ultimately, it's due to Scientifics and technological advances. Inventions such as computers, the Internet, communications satellites and genetic diagnostic tools help improve our lives in many ways. Difficult tasks are made simple and can be done much more quickly.
However, technological innovation can also lead to other changes—some of them may not so positive. Throughout history, when new inventions were introduced into a society, it has impacted the society's customs, values and beliefs, the computer revolution that started around 3 decades ago sent the rate of change into its exponential rise. Today, scientific and technological changes are taking place at such a breathtaking pace that many have difficulty keeping up with them. So we become a society in a hurry. Even if there's no need to hurry, "faster" has become the normative way we do things today.
As a society, we are busier than ever before. That's because while technology allows us to do our work faster and more efficiently, it also puts more demands on us. Another trend: Portable digital communication allows people to be reached anywhere, at anytime. You can't get away from anyone anymore, Even when you're relaxing on the weekends; you're often bombarded with e-mails, SMS and calls. It's not unusual to see people at the Airport or Train with their families while anxiously working at their laptops or composing messages on their Blackberries. More people are also bringing work home with them. Everyone is working longer hours—not only because there's a lot more work to be done, but also because of concerns about getting laid off if they don't put in extra hours. Working overtime, working weekends and being on call 24 hours a day are standard for employees at many multi National companies. Thus our daily lives are becoming increasingly complex. Indeed it’s true that our modern gadgets can make our lives easier. But as complex as some of them are, they can really add to our stress levels. Some of our modern-day "time-savers" can be really hard to figure out and use! Many people who own expensive gadgets don't know how to use important features on their Palm Pilots, digital books and iphones. As frustrating as that is, they simply have not had the time to read the manuals carefully.
With all these development Family structure also changed dramatically in the 21st century. The traditional nuclear family with Dad, Mom and kids has been largely replaced by new configurations, including single parents and unmarried couples with children, increasing divorce trend etc and marriage as an institution has been weakened, While divorce rates were climbing, more women were entering the workforce. "Traditional" beliefs and values are being challenged. As a result, religion has lost a lot of its authority, and many people no longer hold to a system of ethics and concrete values. In its place is a secular view where everything is relative. This has reconfigured families, upset moral structures and devastated traditions.
God's Word is a Change Agent.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
We now live in a society where just about anything goes and nothing is certain. We see a tolerance and acceptance of promiscuity, adultery, couples living together outside of wedlock, lying, cheating, alcohol and drug abuse, use of indiscreet and explicit language—to name just some of society's ills we've grown used to. Today, media blitz has intensified with around-the-clock exposure through satellite TV, MP3 players, laptops and Smartphone’s—much of it challenging traditional beliefs and values. No matter how tumultuous or volatile this world gets, we can count on God to be our anchor and refuge. Malachi 3:6 assures us, "For I am the Lord, I do not change." We're reminded again in Hebrews 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." God does not change. He is steady and reliable, His promises enduring forever. Indeed, we can trust completely in God's Word. Of course, in our society today, what's "true" one year might not be the next. We hear of studies that document the health benefits of a certain food, and then a short time later we find that another researcher reports the same food to be harmful. This doesn't happen with God's Word.
Because the living Word of God will not change, neither will His words need revision, updating, or supplementation. The canon of Scripture is closed, and there is no need to seek for revelation other than what our Lord has revealed. A changeless Savior and a changeless revelation means that we should be suspicious about that which is new and novel and which has no clear foundation in God’s Word. These are changing times, but we are to live according to changeless truth, and a changeless Savior.
Jeremiah 7:5-7 God said to people of Israel “If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever.”
The world's all time best-seller, the Bible is not just one book, but 66 books, penned by 40 different authors over a span of 1,500 years, in 3 languages on 3 continents. God used humans to write it down -- but behind the scenes He was at work by His Holy Spirit, directing and helping them write what He wanted them to say. And because it came from God, its messages are truthful, timeless and priceless -- because God is timeless. The Bible puts it this way: "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
The Bible is manufacturer's instruction manual; the primary purpose of the Bible is its message about salvation, and that is its primary sphere of authority. It is a sufficient guide that tells us how we might be given eternal life with God. God has all authority, and we accept the Bible as the primary authority by which God communicates to us what God wants us to believe and to do. 2 Tim 3:15 which tells us the Scriptures make us wise unto salvation. John 20:30-31 says the Book was written that people might have eternal life through trusting in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:23,25 says that the word was preached so people could be 'born again'. Psalm 19:7 says the scriptures revive the soul. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 teaches that God's laws are given that people might have life rather than death, prosperity rather than destruction. 2 Tim 3:16-17 tells us that the scriptures are valuable because they thoroughly equip the man of God for every good work!
Hence we should allow ourselves to Govern by God’s word .According to the dictionary, to govern means “to guide, to direct, to control all actions and behavior of those under authority” If Christ reigns as the supreme authority over his kingdom, and we are his subjects, then our lives must be governed by His word. In short, Jesus must be allowed to control all of our actions and behavior, including our every thought, word and deed. Jesus said, “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). And it is within this kingdom—the realm of our hearts—that Christ rules supreme over his people, guiding us, healing us, governing our actions and behavior.
What we need to know is: How does change apply to our personal life? To change the world, we must begin by changing ourselves. Changing ourselves changes the world; to the extent we change ourselves the universe is changed, because we are part of it all. The whole fabric of humanity is changed, to the extent we change ourselves. The law of radiation and attraction states that vibrations we send out affects others; and the vibrations of others affect us. It is impossible to ignore these vibrations. The first step on our journey to a more fulfilling life is a desire to change.
