Jump Start # 1769

Daniel 5:30-31 “That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.”

Today is Inauguration Day in America. A new president is being sworn in. Some are glad. Some are sad. Some will applaud and some will protest. A changing leadership is something that we find even in Bible history. Our verse today reflects the switch from Babylonian power to another nation, the Medes. All of this came about through the hands of the Lord. Before this, we read back in Exodus that a new Pharaoh took over Egypt who did not know Joseph. That new ruler enslaved the Israelites for a long time. Eventually, that led to Moses leading the people of God out of Egypt. Pharaoh followed with his army. They were all drowned in the sea. The Bible follows Israel into the wilderness and eventually the promise land, but back home in Egypt another ruler had to take over.

A new leader often scares folks because of the unknown. What changes will be introduced? Will things get better or worse? Will he do what he promised or will he forget? We get used to things and many do not like change.

Facing changes is something that we all go through.

A young person starts high school. It’s scary at first. New faces. New rooms to learn. So many new people. But by the time he is a senior, he has gotten very comfortable with things and fears what he must face as he leaves and heads off to college.

A person works for years and years at a company. People come and go but it’s basically the same. Years fly by and then one day it’s time to retire. It’s time to leave. That change is hard. Some don’t do well in retirement.

Even down at the church house, it’s been the same men who have led the church for years. It’s been the same preacher in the pulpit for years and years. Now, some step down because of age or the preacher moves on. A change takes place.

We can get so used to things that we never want things to change but they do. People age and things change. Neighbors move and there is a change. Pets die and there is a change. Companies that you have known for years are sold or go out of business. Restaurants close. Local communities put in “round-abouts” for traffic flow and people don’t like them. The main reason is because “it’s different.” Change. The weather, especially where I live, is always changing. Today, the temp will get close to breaking a record, over 70 in January. But by next week, there may be snow. Change.

In this ever changing world we live in, there are some constants. There are some things that will not change. Here are just a few of them:

• God doesn’t change. This is hard for those who do not know God to understand. Some see the God of the O.T. and the God of the N.T. as being different. Some would declare that He changed. No. Hebrews tells us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God still loves you. God still wants you in Heaven. God still wants to forgive you.

• God’s word doesn’t change. It is still His will and our law. There are portions of it that folks think are dated or cultural and so they want to change what it says. Some do not like what the Bible says about divorce, homosexuality, or even worship. Outdated is what some declare. Not fitting in with modern man is another charge against it. Instead of man changing, some want to change the Bible. But in doing so, especially in their preaching, they are moving away from God. The Word of God abides forever is what Jesus said. Sinful and selfish desires lead folks to move away from the Bible. They want dramatic plays and comedy skits instead of sermons. They want less doctrine and more fun. They don’t want accountability. They want a church that serves their needs. They want a church that puts the “customer” first. God has been moved to a lower status when we start tinkering with His word.

• Our need for Christ hasn’t changed. It never will. In our fast paced, global times, we still sin and we still need a Savior. We have not outgrown Christ nor have we gotten to the point where we can manage things on our own. Sin still plagues us. Worry, fear and doubt seems to loom behind every step we take. We haven’t learned to get along any better. Families are as broken as ever. Attitudes have not improved. We need Jesus. We need Him badly.

• Heaven doesn’t change. It, like God, is eternal. Heaven is God’s home. Moderns have twisted our concept of Heaven into whatever dreams we have. For some Heaven is a fishing pond. Others see Heaven as Disneyworld. Some see it as a place filled with pets. This carnal and vain thinking is based upon us and not God. Heaven is God’s home. It centers around God. It’s not about getting to do all the fun things that I never had time for while on earth. Heaven isn’t different for each person. It’s not the Divine “Fantasy Island.” Those thoughts do not come from the Bible. Heaven is about God. If I don’t like God, like being with God, like the things that God likes, I probably will not only not like Heaven, there is a good chance I probably won’t make it. Heaven doesn’t change.

Change. Down here, many things are changing. But there remains some unchangeable things in our lives. You can count upon these things. They were the same for your grandfather and they will be the same for your grandchildren. The same God and the same Bible that those early Christians turned to, remains the same for you. It worked for them and it will work for you. You don’t need newer things. You need that old story about Jesus. Forget the hype about new ways, new ideas, new discoveries, new methods, new truths—they are usually fads that fade in a short time. The Bible has stood the test of time. Men turned to it when in war. People bowed to God in times of fear and conflict. God and His word has mended broken hearts, homes and broken relationships. Prodigals have come home because they could count upon God and His word. People have been forgiven because of what is always there in God and His word. Old sermons that were true to the book still work today because God and His word never changes. God put a stake in the ground a long time ago. It doesn’t matter whether we are American, African, Asian, of this generation or of generations long ago, that stake remains. This is what we turn to. This is what defines right and wrong. This is what we can count on.

Hold to God’s unchanging hand…God doesn’t change.

Roger