Submitted by Pastor Richard Boettner, Rock Port Baptist Church

The very word change can conjure up very different meanings to different people. As you read this, there is an inevitable change occurring outdoors from winter to spring. We often say in Northwest Missouri, “if you don’t like the weather, just wait . . . it will change!” You may be about to change clothes for work or for a dress up occasion. Last summer we made significant improvements to our church building such as a new roof, downspouts, and painting. I have enjoyed the changes this past winter as the appearance and practical improvements are encouraging for the future.

A Scripture passage in Malachi 3:6 reminds us to make changes to prepare for His judgment, but in doing so that God does NOT change. His immutable (unchangeable) character reassures us in the middle of uncertain life circumstances. “I, the Lord, have not changed, so you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6)

God also works the change in our lives to teach us to rely on His grace, not on ourselves, and to see more of His glory and presence in our lives.

Consider 2 Corinthians 3:17,18: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed (changed) into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

This spiritual work of God is so much more than merely changing a house, a car, a job, or some other material thing. This is about more of His character being placed in our lives so we reflect His glory to other people.

Even in trials and suffering we can see that we learn the finer virtues of Christian living: trusting God by faith, practicing humility, showing more patience and empathy to others, forgiving the offenses of others, etc.

Finally, we have assurance that the final change will happen upon the coming of Christ. Consider this Scripture: “Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

This final change will bring us back to where God intended us to be in the beginning. We will be changed to our final incorruptible being. This motivates me to consider my spiritual relationship with God NOW as a first priority. In doing so, I can be assured that God has begun this work, He will not change, and He will finish it. This is because Jesus Christ is “the same, yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at rockportbaptistchurch.com.