Confidence in the Face of Accelerated Change

How would you describe our world today? What one word comes to your mind? Innocent people are killed in movie theaters. Military recruiting stations come under gun fire. The Supreme Court decides to make laws rather than interpret them and rule in favor of same sex marriage. An Iran nuclear deal is promoted as a peaceful settlement by global leaders while their citizens cry “death to Israel and death to America” in the streets. Entire nations have declared bankruptcy. Atheism grows as religious groups are targeted and labeled hatemongers and terrorists. The word that comes to my mind is “change.”

Change is something that we expect to some degree. The Bible warns us that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” But the acceleration of these changes is alarming and points to devastating ruin or divine revival. The world cannot stay on its present course for long.

In the midst of this chaotic change, we can have a calm confidence. This confidence is based on two important principles from God’s Word. First, we know that we have an unchanging God. “For I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6a). “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end”—Psalm 102:25-27. We as God’s people have the calm assurance that God is in control. He has not vacated His throne or resigned His position. No one can or ever will unseat God!

Secondly, His plan for our lives is unchanged. Let me encourage you to stay in the battle. Of course there will be setbacks, heartaches, and discouragement. God’s people from Bible times to the present have always faced opposition. This is not the time to quit. Culture changes to be sure. We are a minority as Christians in this world and scripture reminds us that it will get worse. But what God put in your heart to do for Him with your life has not changed. His gifting and calling on your life are without repentance (Romans 11:29). God has not made a mistake. What He has called you and equipped you to do through your training, He will enable you to do. “For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” —Philippians 2:13

When I think about the world today, the word “changing” immediately comes to mind. When I see your name as one of our graduates of West Coast, it is my prayer, and I hope yours, that the word “unchanging” comes to mind.