Coping with Change
The Uncharted Battle
by
Walter Manning
Coping with Change
The Uncharted Battle
Copyright 2009 Walter Manning
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Copyright 2009 Lee Emory
Printed and published in the U.S.A.
by MountainView Publishing
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This is a non-fiction work. All rights reserved. No part of this book or any other copyrighted materials contained herein, used by permission, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning to a computer disk, or by any informational storage and retrieval system, without express permission in writing from the publishers.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Ebook ISBNs: 978-1-936127-96-2
1-936127-96-2
Contents
It is difficult to imagine such a thorough treatment of this very important subject in one volume, but here it is. I have been watching for months as this book has taken shape, evolving, enlarging, and deepening.
When asked to assess a book and respond with an endorsement, write a foreword, or simply provide a verbal evaluation, I try to get the feel of the author’s intentions and get on the map with him so that I may enjoy the trip. Reading a book to me is like enjoying a journey with the author as the travel agent or tour guide. I examine the book (journey) from a distance to get the feel of what it will be like to make this journey. Such questions as these generally come to mind, especially if I have never made such a trip before.
o Does the author (the tour guide) exhibit expertise, not only in giving assurance of a satisfying arrival at a proposed destination while also providing a gripping experience with sites along the way? This book scores high in this category.
o Is the subject matter pertinent, relevant to me personally? Who wouldn’t find fetching a subject like change when we are hearing about it every day and experiencing it with blinding, blurring, and bothersome speed? Oh, yes, these pages literally exude pertinence and relevance.
o Do the subject and the manner of articulation assure the reader that the trip is worthwhile? Walt prepares us for the journey by showing us the inevitability of change, the rich rewards of facing and coping with change, and a manner in which the journey can be enjoyed, not just endured. Pointedly, I assure you, this will be a valuable trip for you.
o Is this book just a brief jaunt to an interesting destination, or is it a well-planned adventure into a realm that offers wisdom for the present and valid guidance for the future? No doubt about it, the latter wins.
Walt Manning is thorough and exhibits the ability to bring ancient truths, meaningful stories and personal experience into a healthy mix with biblical revelation to guarantee a sense of credibility in the reader’s experience.
The book is not just a journey from origin to destination with the traveler thinking, if not saying, “Wow, I wish we could stop at some of these places of interest and have some relaxing dialogue.”
I remember a friend reporting on his recent trip to Israel, summing it up like this: “I ran this week where Jesus walked.” In this case, our seasoned tour guide stops along the way and gives us insights into places of interest. Questions are asked, observations made, and challenges offered that keep the adventure alive and awakening. There is no napping on these pages!
There are twenty-eight chapters and a Conclusion in this tour guide on change, around twice the number found in an average book. However this is no average book. I usually deplore long chapters, for I tend to forget what the chapter began with while enduring the last words. But with this book the reader is spared from the possibility of boredom by simply worded wisdom of bite-sized servings. If there wasn’t a book like this one you are holding, I would say, “There should have been.”
I am sure that someone will think of more on change, speak of it and write about it in the future, but for the life of me, I can’t conceive what it might contain. At this moment I can’t think of a thing that Walt has left out in this excellent offering on a critical subject.
To the reader I say, “Bon Voyage, go slowly, enjoy the details, and take Walt Manning’s advice and finish well!”
Jack Taylor, President
Dimensions Ministries
Melbourne, FL
January 2010
First and foremost, this book is dedicated to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who, being in very nature God Almighty, made Himself nothing, nor considered equality with God something to be grasped. Then He humbled Himself, took on the form of man, and for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and thereafter sat down at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the LORD of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
This book is also dedicated to the bride of my youth, my beautiful, charming, and gracious wife, Magdalene. Since we first met on April 26, 1964, she has never ceased to cradle my heart. She is the love of my life, my partner, sweetheart, and my very best friend. She is a grandmother and an elementary school teacher. But beyond these, she is a woman of strong faith and a true Proverbs thirty-one wife. Next to accepting Jesus as my Savior, marrying Magdalene was the very best decision I have ever made, a decision that has changed my life for the better, forever.
Although I recognize that whenever we attempt to thank those who have helped us along life’s way, there is always the risk of forgetting someone. And the bigger the project that we are engaged in, the greater that risk becomes. However since taking a risk could be seen as merely another measure of one’s faith, let me simply dive in and offer my heartfelt “Thank You” to the following:
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for His love, grace, mercy, obedience, and sacrifice;
Magdalene, my wife, for her unconditional love, patience, and steadfastness of faith;
Elise and Christopher, our children, both of whom Magdalene and I are extremely proud;
Ruth Manning, my mother and a woman of strength, who has never stopped believing in me;
Laura Watson, who has tirelessly reviewed, edited, and encouraged me to continue writing;
John Bankosky, whose friendship I value and who is an effervescent pool of encouragement;
Barbara Warren, my editor, whose insights are of immense value, and last but not least,
Lee Emory, my publisher, for her dedication, energy, and effort in the pursuit of excellence.
In the event I inadvertently omitted someone whose name should appear above, I offer my sincere apology. However please feel free to add your name.
It seems intuitively obvious even to the most casual observer that the experiences we have enjoyed, or have been forced to endure, as a result of change will tend to color our thinking and opinion about future events encountered. For more often than not the mere mention of the word change will evoke a wide spectrum of emotions and reactions, many of which seem to be determined and driven by the amalgamation of our specific circumstances up to that precise moment in time.
For purposes of this book, change can either be good or bad, productive or destructive, desirable or undesirable, painful or pleasant. It could be the outcome of happenstances beyond our ability to control or the result of our having made bad choices. It could aid in our being blessed by God or in living under the curses of men. It might cause us to live in excited anticipation or to become burdened with dread and sorrow. Change may even loose us to walk in vibrant health or to crawl on our knees, heavy laden with disease and illness. It might free us to overflow with joy or to be shackled with sorrow. But come what may, our response to the changes that take place in our life is a direct reflection of our faith and trust in God, and a measure of our relationship with Jesus Christ whether intimate, distant, or non-existent. (The author’s understanding of how to establish a relationship with Jesus Christ is defined in the note at the end of the Introduction.)
But before we proceed, it is essential we recognize and accept the fact that while God may not be the author of every change we face, He certainly allows those changes to occur. Often this is for reasons beyond our ability to comprehend, let alone appreciate. However in Romans 8:28, Paul has said, “…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And that includes every change we will ever encounter in life. Therefore our response to the changes that God allows is not only a measure of our faith in Him, it is also an indicator of our understanding of Scripture, what it says and how we are to apply it in life.
Furthermore it is vital we keep on the forefront of our thinking that God loves to pour His blessings upon His people. Although change may be painful at times, the LORD wants us to experience the fullness of His peace and joy in life by our being a blessing to Him, as well as to others, through both our love and our service. This is an essential point the reader should keep in mind when reading this book. For a failure to recognize and accept this axiom will tend to color our thinking with darkness rather than light, thereby affecting our faith and attitude toward God, others, and life in general.
Now when it comes to handling change, most of us will likely fall into one of three categories: absolute avoidance, resigned tolerance, or welcomed acceptance. Arguably speaking, for any given one hundred people polled, the percentages might fall something like fifteen percent, eighty percent, and five percent, respectively, wherein the majority simply tolerate change. Although many reasons could be offered as to why so few actually embrace change, it is highly probable that most of us simply do not want our comfort zone to be disturbed or disrupted in any way.
In one respect many of us tend to be creatures of habit. And anything that upsets our daily routine automatically becomes suspect, or an outright interference.
From another standpoint some of us act just like a turtle. We slowly plod along the highway of life, gaited by hesitation. And when an unknown change appears on the horizon, just like the turtle we hide and retreat into our shell, tucked away with a false sense of security. For some reason we have come to believe that by secluding ourselves we can avoid the impending uncertainty of change. Only after it is too late do we find out that we were wrong. And sooner or later the wheels of change will run over us, whereupon we will be crushed or killed as a result of our own foolishness, ignorance, or fear.
For some, change could actually threaten their identity, meaning the image they hold of themselves. Is it because they take their identity from what they do rather than from whom they are? Let us look at an example. A man has been a software engineer for over twenty-five years. Due to inept corporate management decisions, the company he works for is forced to downsize, thereby resulting in his becoming a casualty of a reduction in force. After searching for over a year, he simply cannot find another job as a software engineer in the location wherein he and his wife have chosen to reside. As a result he is forced to change his career path. Thus the person he once saw himself to be no longer seems to exist. His identity has changed, at least in his mind.
When all the layers of whom we think we are have finally been peeled away, whether we feel threatened or not will depend on the level of our relationship with Jesus. But this raises another question. Does our relationship with Him emanate from a deeply rooted faith in the truth and validity of Scripture? Or is it simply based on thoughts, feelings, and preconceived notions?
From a spiritual standpoint the Bible can be viewed from several perspectives. However first and foremost it is the undeniable, infallible, Holy Word of God. In one respect the Bible is a history book. But in another it is an amazing love story between man the created and God the Creator. It is an unfolding saga of man’s acceptance and rejection of God versus God’s unbounded mercy, compassion, and love for man, tempered by His overwhelming sense of justice and righteousness. The Bible speaks to the ever-changing ways of man versus the never-changing ways of God. And the golden thread the LORD uses to weave this tapestry of love streams from the spool of change. Thus when reading it, we are constantly impressed with the manner in which God uses change to affect His sovereign purpose in the lives of men.
This book was written with the intent to investigate the concept of change from a biblical perspective. It is not presented as a collection of formulas per se, rather suggestions based on perceived biblical principles that could prove useful in coping with change. Although the author may view Scripture from a perspective the reader has not heretofore considered, no claim is being made to any unique scriptural discovery or interpretation as such.
This book is not intended to be a dogmatic tome but simply to share the author’s opinions and understanding regarding the subject of change, which can conceivably be depicted as an uncharted battle that often takes place on the fertile soil of our mind. However this is not to say that such opinions are error free, only that they are based on the author’s personal experience, interpretation, and understanding of Scripture, history, and current events.
Finally, since change seems to be inevitable, the author contends that we should approach Scripture with a recognition and understanding that there are certain biblical principles we must seek and employ in order to successfully cope with change. And if we accept and apply those principles, then change will be stripped of its power to magnetize us with its fear and uncertainty. For every time we read and study the Bible we are being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, who alone has won the uncharted battle with change.
Walter (Walt) Manning
Palm Bay, FL
February 2010
Note:
To have a relationship with Jesus Christ begins with the recognition that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Following that recognition, you must repent and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. A prayer as simple as this will suffice: “Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner in need of your saving grace and mercy. Here and now I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I accept you as Lord and Savior of my life and invite your Spirit to live in me. Wash my heart and mind, and help me to live my life for you.” Once having prayed that prayer, begin to spend some time, each day, reading the Bible and praying. It would also be very helpful to find a church where the Bible is taught with integrity, every week. Throughout the remainder of this book, the word “LORD” refers to God Himself, and “Lord” refers to Jesus.
I the LORD do not change (Malachi 3:6).
The dictionary defines the word change as follows: to make different in some way; to give a different position, course, or direction to; to pass from one phase to another, or to undergo transformation, transition or substitution.
While we may not find our current circumstances to be what we would consider ideal, most of us are quite content to remain right where we are. We find it easier to complain about our situation or circumstances than to do something about it by making the necessary change. We have become conditioned by our surroundings and would rather adapt and mold to our environment than to resist or do something about it, thereby making it easier and less painful. And to the degree that we are able to adopt and adapt, we are able to grow and mature from a spiritual standpoint, at least so we think. However one of the risks we run from such adopting and adapting is to compromise our spiritual integrity. “Come again?” one might ask. Allow me to share a personal story.
There was a time when Magdalene (my wife) and I felt the need to seek another home church. So one Sunday we decided to visit another fellowship in town. When we entered the church, several people greeted us with smiles, hugs, and handshakes. That’s a good start, we thought. The service began with a formal greeting from the pastor, and quickly moved into a time of praise and worship, which was then followed by announcements. There was a musical special during the offering, after which the pastor began his sermon. It was on tithing. Since we are strong advocates of giving, that was not a problem for us. However near the end we noted a definite shift in the tone and style of his delivery. He became more assertive and controlling, tending to be manipulative.
At one point he uncovered a white board behind him, and on the board were drawn two columns, each having ten rows. In the left column were percentages, descending from ten to one. Upon concluding his message he directed each person, beginning with the first row, to come forward and sign their name next to the percentage they agreed to give. Silent, loud alarms went off inside both of us. We had at least three choices. We could follow like sheep and sign in a block. We could simply remain in our seat when it was our turn to go up front. Or we could do the uncomfortable thing, which was to get up and walk out. We elected the latter. Now that was a big deal for my wife, for she does not like making a scene, no matter what.
It would have been easy to play along and then renege. However that would not have been honest. We had to make a change even though it was not comfortable, one wherein we would not compromise our spiritual integrity.
The point here is that sometimes change may require us to do what we really do not want to do in order to maintain our sense of spiritual integrity, of who we are in Jesus. And many times this type of change will come during a firestorm of other changes taking place in our life. This instance was just such a case, for it came at a time of employment uncertainty, financial concerns, and the need to find another home church.
Whenever we reach a point of complacency, an interlude wherein we are perfectly content, we should not be surprised if God stirs, shakes, or turns our nest upside down. “Why,” one might ask, “would God do that?” If for no other reason than because He loves us too much to sit back and watch us dry up and wither away to nothing. Neither does He want us to keep doing the same things over and over again, showing little to no growth in faith or understanding. The point of the matter is that we all need to be challenged on a regular basis. Why? Because we have a propensity to grow cold, calloused, stagnant, and filled with pride. And that is part of the purpose of change. In other words to keep us spiritually sharp, intense, and active, not prone to sitting back in a lounge chair while snacking on the fruits of life and content with the status quo.
Sometimes the changes God allows may even appear to be a demotion in the eyes of the world. However the truth might be that God promoted us in the spirit so that He could move us to where He wants us to be in the flesh. This is exactly what happened to a number of biblical characters.
Let us consider the life of Moses, Joseph, and Job. Did not Moses have to be cast into the wilderness, a man guilty of murdering one of his own, before God raised him up? What about Joseph? Did he not have to suffer the hatred of his brothers and then be cast into prison before God raised him to a position of authority, second only to Pharaoh himself? And then there was Job. Here was a man who was viciously attacked by Satan, only to be rebuked by his friends before God raised him to even greater riches and respect. And because Job remained faithful in his belief, God blessed him more in the latter part of his life than in the former.
Each of these men was allowed to suffer an earthly demotion in the eyes of the world while being prepared for a spiritual promotion in the eyes of God. Or in other words the LORD permitted change to come into their lives so that He could move them from where they were to where He wanted them to be in order to effect His will on earth. Given that, who’s to say the change we are experiencing at this precise moment is not a part of God’s overall plan, just as it was for Moses, Joseph, and Job?
So what exactly made these men, and others like them in Scripture, such spiritual giants? What caused them to rise above the pack and stand tall like a stalk of wheat in a field of tares? Is it possible that one essential difference lay solely in their ability to focus on the unseen rather than on the seen, such as: integrity, joy, and relationship versus money, power, and control?
Another difference between those who ascend to greatness versus those who simply lay heel marks is the manner in which they interpret and respond to the changes that God allows. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul clearly warns us of changes that will occur when we commit our ways to Jesus. Therein he wrote: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Now if persecution
The point is that if we truly desire to follow Jesus, to walk holy and righteous before God, then we should expect our life to be peppered with change. Hence we should welcome change with open arms, receiving it as God’s gift. Why? Because according to Romans 8:28, He is allowing the change to take place for our good and not our harm. Let me share another personal experience.
During my quiet times with the LORD from September 2008 through January 2009, I sensed God was warning me about changes that were coming. However never thinking to personalize it, and given the world situation today, I assumed He meant change on a national and/or global scale, not at a personal level.
I had been in my job for almost eight years. I was doing well, and earned a respectable income. Then in early February 2009, my boss called me to his office at four in the afternoon. I entered and shut the door as requested, whereupon he said something about a company reorganization, after which he gave me a choice. Either I agreed to accept a new position in the company, or I would be unemployed. Was I surprised, shocked, hurt, angry and disgruntled? “Yes” to all of the above. That evening I went before the LORD in prayer, asking Him, “LORD, what are you saying to me in this? Am I to leave, or remain and take a job I really don’t want?”
Somewhere a long time ago, I learned that the silence of the LORD could be quite deafening at times. And this was definitely one of those times, for I heard absolutely nothing. Change had suddenly invaded and intruded upon my life. Quite candidly, I did not like it. I did not want it. Nor did I welcome it. However in the final analysis I had a choice to make. I could focus on what I lost, or I could look forward with expectation to what God was going to do.
Even though I can, at times, be a man who exercises strong faith, all of a sudden I found myself beginning to murmur and complain about the situation. My pride and ego were wounded. It was a painful time. Finally after a lot of agonizing prayer, I bit the bullet and took the position that was offered. However I did not take the job because I feared being unemployed. That was not the issue. I accepted a position I did not want simply because I sensed that God had not yet released me. It was as simple as that. Although I did not like what I was asked to do, I had a decision to make. I could humble myself and obey what I believed God was saying to me, or I could cater to my ego and pride and simply resign. Because I had made, sometime ago, a conscious decision to follow Jesus to the best of my ability, I chose to listen and obey.
Here are two points for our consideration. When God speaks, we need to listen and obey. However when His silence resonates, we should not move. Rather we should simply remain where we are. When change occurs, we had better be willing to wait on God. For when we do, He assumes responsibility for the outcome. But if we elect to do it our way, then we assume the responsibility for the outcome, not God.
Moses, Joseph and Job chose to wait on the LORD. So did David, and look at the outcome. Moses led the Israelites out of bondage to Egypt and set them on the path to the Promised Land. Joseph managed the resources of Egypt during a three-year famine, thereby saving the Israelites from starvation. And Job was blessed more in the later years of his life than he was in the early years. However Saul chose not to wait on God, and look at the outcome. He had his kingdom ripped away from him, lost his sons in battle, and then took his own life. Do we get the point?
Change often requires a tearing down before there can be a building up, a deconstructing of the past in preparation for a reconstructing of the future. This principle seems especially true in the spiritual realm where there is often a humbling before there is an exalting. Scripture is replete with such examples. Moses was humbled before he was exalted. So was Joseph. King Saul was humbled before David was exalted. Paul was humbled on the road to Damascus before God raised him to preach the gospel of Christ. Jesus Himself clearly speaks to this principle. For did He not leave all that He was only to humble Himself? And in so doing, was He not crucified and buried in a borrowed tomb before He was gloriously resurrected?
Likewise we too should expect to be humbled by God before being used mightily by God. And change is one of the instruments He will use to humble us in the flesh in order to promote us in the spirit.
Furthermore there are times when God will shuffle the present in order to stack the future, just as He did with Joseph. It is this type of dramatic change that forces us to vacate our comfort zone in preparation for that which He is about to do in our life, just as I recently experienced with my job reassignment.
God sees the end from the beginning. But we see through a glass darkly, being unable to know with certainty which path to take. This is where faith comes into play. It affords us the opportunity to trust God in all things at all times, to focus on the unseen rather than the seen. The point here is that how we view and interpret change that envelops us will determine how we react to that change. If we look at it with the eyes of man, then all we will be able to see is what man sees, simply an attack on our comfort and ego. However if we recognize change as a means for God to effect our good, we will be better positioned to embrace change as an opportunity to cultivate our relationship with Jesus. One might even conclude that the more we embrace change, the more we become like Jesus because our eyes are focused on the unseen.
According to the Prophet Malachi, God never changes. We, on the other hand, are constantly changing. And we must change if we are to be transformed into the image of Jesus. However such transformation requires that we submit our total being into the hands of the Master Potter, the LORD our Creator, who may choose to pound, smash, squeeze, or even crush us more than once before He is satisfied with the outcome, a handmade vessel, unique in Christ.
So if we are going to ride the crest of change, then we must align our soul with our spirit by praying, reading, and studying the Word of God. Moreover our spirit must align with the Spirit of God, thereby affording us a view of change that aligns itself with the Father’s will. And such alignment takes place as we fix our eyes upon Jesus, taking every thought captive to Him, for only in doing such can we become one with Him, just as He was one with the Father.
In the final analysis are we willing to obey God even if it requires us to suffer a little in order to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to be humbled, taken apart, and put back together again by the hands of a compassionate, holy, and loving God? Or will we simply refuse to suffer and sacrifice in any way whatsoever, desiring instead to remain where we are, trapped in our comfort zone in bondage to the past? Before answering too quickly, we would be well advised to remember that the Bible clearly demonstrates that the rewards and blessings of obedience to God will always outweigh the curses and penalties of our disobedience.
Points to consider:
o If we want to grow in Christ, we must be willing to accept the changes God allows in our life, regardless of whether we understand why.
o Learning to flow with change requires that we shift our focus from what man is doing to what God is doing.
o Change may require that we undergo a demotion in the eyes of man before we receive a promotion in the eyes of God.
What’s next?
Whether we like it or not change will occur. And the more we resist change, the more difficult it will be to adapt to it. Rather than embracing it as a God-given opportunity to grow and mature in the Spirit, far too many of us bemoan, complain, and whine about our circumstances. But if we accept the notion that change is inevitable, the question is: What are we going to do about it?
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs (Jonah 2:8).
Generally speaking for most of us change is not a welcomed event in our life, especially when it occurs right out of the blue. It introduces uncertainty. It can make us feel overwhelmed and/or confused. It can make us fearful. And it can easily disrupt our daily routine, as it stirs, shakes, and pushes us out from beneath our security blanket.
During their journey through the wilderness, the Israelites moved whenever the cloud of God moved. And each time it moved, significant change was required in the way the Israelites lived. It was as if they were being forced to make adjustments in order to accommodate where God was going. Yet God’s Word clearly testifies that the Israelites failed in their fundamental assignment, which was to reveal God to the rest of the world by walking holy and righteous before Him in faith and obedience. Hundreds of thousands of Israelites began the journey into the wilderness. But of all who started only Joshua and Caleb made it to the finish line and entered the Promised Land. The rest died along the way because of their disobedience to God.
This biblical anecdote clearly illustrates a dominant scriptural principle. On the one hand, obedience to God will generally result in our being blessed by God. And such blessing will ultimately guide us into the Promised Land that He has prepared for us, in this life and the next. On the other hand, disobedience not only launches its own penalty, but if it is allowed to continue, it could end in the death of our spirit and/or physical body.
Deuteronomy twenty-eight clearly delineates the distinction between the rewards of obedience versus the penalties of disobedience. And Moses said to the people, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). And because Joshua and Caleb were obedient, willfully choosing life over death, they entered the Promised Land.
Now if we are to survive our journey through the wilderness of change and be blessed by God along the way, then we must surrender to the leading of His Spirit. We must be prepared to move with the clouds of change, trusting that no weapon formed against us will prevail. Otherwise we will run the risk of never entering the promises that God has destined for us. Furthermore unless we want to risk facing the wilderness alone instead of remaining beneath the covering and protection of God, we must move with Him, whenever and wherever He leads. To help illustrate this point let us take a look at Jesus’ wilderness experience and notice how He responded to the temptations and adversity of His situation.
In Luke four we read that after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him into the desert where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. But why did Jesus have to endure this wilderness test? Why could He not have gone straight to the temple and minister to the lost sheep of Israel? One possible explanation is that there was a transition, or change, that only the wilderness could effect. For according to Luke 4:1 Jesus entered the wilderness full of the Spirit, but He exited in the power of the Spirit, as noted in Luke 4:14. Perhaps in order for Him to minister with the anointing or power of God’s Spirit, Jesus needed to experience the temptations of the wilderness where He was totally dependent upon the faithfulness of His Father. In effect this testing provided the sustenance Jesus would need to combat the onslaught that He would face in the marketplace of worldly ideas.
Additionally this wilderness testing actually embraced the totality of Satan’s arsenal, in that Jesus was tempted mentally, physically, and spiritually. Because Jesus emerged from the wilderness victorious over the adversity that He faced, He paved the way for all of us who follow Him to exit our wilderness in a like manner, which is to be victorious and anointed to fulfill the purposes to which we have been summoned and appointed by God.
Although Jesus had to endure the wilderness only once, we on the other hand must suffer such on a regular basis. “But why?” one might ask. Whereas Jesus lived in perfect obedience to His Father’s will, we do not, simply because we leak. The power we received in the morning may very well leak out of us by the afternoon, and the wilderness is often the only place where we can be changed, renewed, revitalized, and refreshed. Herein is the importance of maintaining our commitment to reading the Bible every day. It affords us the opportunity to be full of the Spirit before we enter the wilderness. For if we have not been filled with the Spirit, how can we be empowered by the Spirit when we leave the wilderness? Moreover such change is required on a continuing basis if we are to be effective ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now when we think about it, if Jesus had to undergo change in the wilderness, why would we think that we would not?
Each time we peel another layer from the onion of change, we rediscover that change requires us to readjust our thinking. It also demands that we challenge and alter our priorities. This seems particularly true with respect to spiritual issues. Even if we are in a relationship with Jesus, instead of welcoming the changes that God allows many of us resist them. Why? It is likely because we view change from a worldly standpoint rather than a Kingdom or biblical perspective.
Instead of embracing change most of us try to avoid it, choosing to view it as a form of adversity instead of an opportunity. So rather than to accept change as being God ordained, our immediate response is to resist and rebel, or run and hide like Jonah did. We would prefer to avoid the discomfort of change rather than to have to suffer the pain of being molded, groomed, cultivated, and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Is that not the attitude the Israelites displayed when Moses was leading them out of bondage to Egypt to their newfound freedom in the Promised Land?
For four hundred and thirty years the Israelites lived in servitude to the Egyptians, during which time they continued to cry out to the LORD for deliverance. They wanted to see change take place, to be set free to live and worship the God of their forefathers. And when the time finally arrived for them to be released, to undergo the change necessary in order to be transformed from who they were into who God wanted them to be, they constantly complained, murmured, and whined. They did not want to suffer the pain of change or undergo the sacrifices it required, even though their disobedience might mean death. Throughout their entire wilderness walk the Israelites trusted in what they could see, meaning their circumstances, rather than in what they could not see, the Holy One of Israel.
As noted before, although thousands upon thousands were set free from bondage to Egypt to begin their journey to the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb completed the trip. Why? Because not only did they endure the hardships of such an experience with a Christlike attitude, they also walked in faith and obedience to the LORD. Whereas they were the only two who did, they were the only ones who were blessed by God, allowing them to enter the Promised Land. How important a lesson is that for us to ponder in today’s climate of massive change?
The fact is that we have yet to come to grips with what Paul wrote to the Philippians: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Instead of looking at change as something positive and accepting it as an opportunity to die to self and live for Christ, we consider ourselves more highly than we ought, constantly striving to achieve and obtain more and more. And then when adversity slams us to the mat, we say to God: “Why me, LORD? Surely you can find someone more worthy than I to have to suffer like this.” And in His loving, compassionate way, God responds to those who have ears to hear, “No, my child. This is so that you can grow and mature in order for you to fulfill your destiny in Jesus, my Son.”
Was that not God’s intended purpose for the Israelites’ journey? In other words to grow and mature so they could become instruments of change by bringing His truth to a world that was declining, decaying, and deteriorating both morally and spiritually? And is that not what God wants for His people today? But the Israelites simply refused to make the sacrifices required of them. So the question for us to consider is this: Just how much are we willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ? Let us be reminded that even though Paul gave up everything to follow Jesus, having to endure sacrifice and adversity, he boldly proclaimed: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…” (Philippians 3:7-8).
Oh, if we could only capture, understand, and apply the fullness of God’s words as written in Isaiah 43:18-19: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. But instead of forgetting the past, we take hold of it with a death-like grip, clutching it as though our promise rested in the past rather than in our future with Jesus. But when we do, are we not walking in rebellion rather than in obedience? Furthermore if we refuse to die to self and live for Christ, why would we expect God to continue to shower us with His blessings?
It is also important to note that sometimes change reflects a thirst for the moisture of the future, not the arid, parched dryness of the past. As the Prophet Isaiah wrote: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by glowing streams (Isaiah 44:3-4). From this one might conclude that our resistance to change can also affect our family and friends, even to the point where they receive less than God’s best, all because of our disobedience.
For example let us suppose we are earning a commanding salary. We are a leader in our church, give more than a tithe of our income, are engaged in volunteer work, and are a respected and appreciated member of the community. Suddenly we wake up one day and sense that the LORD is telling us to quit our job, sell everything we have, and move to the Middle East, to a country yet to be revealed. Perhaps our first impression is to dismiss this as a trick of Satan to destroy our ministry and service. Nonetheless the thought lingers. We struggle with the comforts and feeling of importance to which we have become accustomed. However after much wrestling and struggling, we finally conclude that we are where we are supposed to be. So we dismiss the matter.
But what would have happened if we had embraced that idea and ventured forth in faith? How would our family and friends have been impacted? Come to think of it, is that not akin to what Abram did when God spoke to him? (Refer to Genesis 12:1.) And as a result of Abram’s obedience, God not only blessed him, but Abram actually became a blessing to the entire world. How fantastic is that?
When God calls us to make a change, He is not particularly impressed with the sacrifices we have to make. But what does impress Him is a heart that is willing to face change head-on with faith, fortitude, and resolve to trust that He will supply all we need in order to accomplish what He has called us to do in Jesus.
In Proverbs 20:24, we read: A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? And in Isaiah 48:17 God said, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” As long as we are walking with Jesus, whenever change comes, we can take comfort in knowing that God is at the helm, directing our steps in accordance with His will and purpose. However if we rebel against Him, we should not be surprised to find ourselves in a place we do not want to be, doing what we do not want to do, waiting for God to move us to where He wants us to be. The lives of Jonah and the Apostle Paul provide us with good examples, albeit from opposite ends of the spectrum.
In Acts chapters eight and nine we read how Saul of Tarsus stood against the early church, even to the point of dragging men and women off to prison. There is little doubt that when Saul showed up at someone’s door, people trembled in fear. But God had a plan for his life, a purpose that none could foresee, which was to change him from a man who was bent on destroying the church to a man who would be driven by an insatiable desire to build the church. However such a change required a dramatic transformation in his life, which even included changing his name.
All because Saul was willing to change, he was able to fulfill the destiny to which he had been called. And in the process God blessed him beyond measure. Saul (later to become Paul) sacrificed all that he had and was in order to receive the riches of a life committed to preaching the gospel of Christ. And his willingness to change will continue to benefit mankind until the day Jesus returns. But such was not the case with Jonah. His story is quite a contrast to that of Saul. For unlike Saul who responded in obedience to the call of God, Jonah ran away and tried to hide from God.
As written in Jonah 1:1, the wickedness of Nineveh had come to God’s attention. So the LORD summoned Jonah to go to the city and preach against it. Jonah was to call the people to repentance and tell them to turn their hearts back to God. The twist in this story is that Jonah did not want God to relent. Jonah wanted to see the people of Nineveh incinerated for their sins by the fiery finger of God. (Have we ever felt that way about someone?) Therefore he rebelled and ran away thinking that he could escape from his responsibility.
But God was not about to let him off the hook that easily. He chased him right into the sea where Jonah became chum for God’s pet whale. This forced Jonah to reconsider the changes his rebellion had unleashed. Hence while bobbing in the belly of the whale, he repented of his sin. And it was only after he repented that the whale spewed him onto the beach.
We can be assured that Jonah did not want to be in the belly of a great fish, swimming and sloshing around with seaweed, sardines, and snappers. All because Jonah tried to hide from his responsibility, God put him in a place where he did not want to be, doing what he did not want to do, in order for God to get him to the place where He wanted him to be. Jonah’s rebellion resulted in his having to suffer the consequences of his foolishness until he repented, whereupon he prayed, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (Jonah 2:8). Likewise anytime we cling to the past, by thought, word, or deed to the degree that it becomes an idol, we too will forfeit the grace that could have been ours in Jesus Christ.
It is inevitable that change will occur, especially if we are to be transformed into the image of Jesus. In the final analysis it really does not matter whether or not the change we experience is painful or pleasant. The important thing is that we focus on the Kingdom of God rather than on the kingdoms of men, to focus on what God is doing and not what men are doing. And if we are in a relationship with Jesus, truly desiring to become like Him, then we must be willing to submit to Him. Even to the point of embracing unwanted changes that God allows in our life.
We must remember that the LORD is always in control, and that He is directing and ordering our steps. So that when we walk in obedience to Him, we can rest in the assurance that He will always work things for our good, using change, if we love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Sometimes change requires a level of pain and sacrifice on our part. But if that results in our being transformed into the image of Christ, then let us stand and shout, “Bring it on, LORD. Let me decrease knowing the joy of Jesus increasing in me.”
Points to consider:
o We will benefit far more by learning to embrace change than we will by trying to run away from it.
o The Word of God tells us that the LORD directs our steps, which includes the changes we encounter.
o In order for us to be transformed into the image of Christ we must learn to view change from a Kingdom perspective.
What’s next?
To be prepared for war is half the battle. If a nation fails to prepare for war, then the probability of being defeated increases dramatically. To ignore a warning sign that says “Danger Ahead” is foolish, at best. And to know that change is coming and not prepare for it is equally foolish. So the question is: How do we prepare for change?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The Bible clearly tells us that God does not change. It also says that Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow. While there may be times when we think God has changed, the fact is that the changes we think we see in Him are actually the changes that are taking place in us. And it is our willingness to walk holy and righteous before Him and to obey His commands that produce those changes in us.
Let us imagine that we meet a man we knew from a number of years ago. More than likely the opinion we hold of him is based on our interaction with him in years past. However as we became reacquainted with one another, we immediately take notice that he is not the same person we once knew. He has changed. His tone has softened. And what used to be a sharp, critical spirit has been replaced by a loving and gracious demeanor. Moreover we cannot help but notice that his entire attitude is flavored with love and respect. As a result we make arrangements to meet again, to rekindle the relationship that once was.
Now just as our view of that person changed by the changes we saw in him, so our view of God will change as we allow ourselves to be transformed more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. But in order for us to be transformed, we must first have the desire to change. That is step one in the process of preparing for change. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23:7 that as a man thinks in his heart, so he becomes. Therein lies the second step in preparing for change. In other words, if we want to be more like Christ, then we must be willing to change our thinking.
So how do we do that? To change the manner in which we think, we must take our thoughts captive to Jesus Christ. But in order to take our thoughts captive to Jesus, we have to know who Jesus is and how He thinks. Right? That is where daily Bible reading and prayer become absolutely essential. For if we do not spend time with Jesus, we will not know how He thinks, thereby making it difficult to take our thoughts captive, or submitted to Him. And if we do not, then we cannot be transformed into His likeness.
Since the fall of man, God has been calling men to prepare for the changes of tomorrow and the permanency of eternity. However if we refuse to listen and to obey, then how will we ever learn to cope with the changes that will occur when darkness crosses our pathway?
Scripture supports the fact that the world is winding down. It is rushing toward that hour when (arguably speaking) the greatest change in all of history will take place at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Whereas Jesus’ crucifixion marked and divided recorded history, so shall His second coming. And if we have not prepared ourselves for the changes that are soon to descend upon us, we could easily be caught on the wrong side of history. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Now if that time should come and we are still here, to whom shall we turn, if not to the LORD? Where shall we flee, if not to Him? Furthermore if we have not already prepared for such a change, it will be too late.
Many of the changes that mankind will face in the future are clearly addressed in Scripture, particularly as described in the Books of Daniel and Revelation. These two books contain much pertaining to biblical eschatology. Some contend that these books are allegories and cannot be understood; hence it is a waste of time to even study them. But to make such a statement is akin to saying that at least two of the sixty-six books in the Bible are not worth considering. In point of fact, there are those who contend that all of prophecy is a complete waste of time. But is not such a conclusion a direct violation of Scripture itself?
Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Note that it does not say that some Scripture is God-breathed; it says all Scripture is. Therefore we not only run the risk of losing something that God has inspired and given to man, we also run the risk of blaspheming God by making claims that something He said in not important. We are the created, not the Creator, the clay and not the Master Potter. And when we begin to think otherwise, we are at odds with God, which is not a smart position to take. But just what does it mean to be prepared for some calamitous event that comes rolling at us like a mighty tidal wave?