Resolutions for the New Year? The Bottom Line- Change

 

“My days are like a lengthened shadow, and I wither away like grass.  But You, O Lord, abide forever, and Your name to all generations. (Psa. 102:11-12).

Change -- it’s the slogan of politicians, the promise of unfaithful partners, the quest of scientists, the dream of inventors.  Change is inevitable.  While I type this my body will have changed microscopically so that I’m not the same person I was when I started -- having succumbed to the second law of thermodynamics.

But there are some things that will never change in 2012.  Here are a few immutable things you can expect to happen this year:  First, contrary to our relativistic culture, truth will not change in 2012.  Truth by nature is immutable and eternal. If hypothetically all truth was capable of change, then the single truth that all truth changes would be immutable -- incapable of change (Psa. 117:2).  Hence, proving the point.

Second, God’s nature, will, and glory will not change this year.  Since God can’t increase or decrease, His plans can’t be frustrated, neither His glory diminished by any action or inaction of His creation.  ". . . the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." (1 Sam. 15:29).

Third, Jesus Christ as our high priest cannot and will not change.  “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “you are a priest forever” (Psa. 110:4).  And if a priest, then effectual in being heard by the Father (Heb. 7:25) and sympathetic toward His people (Heb. 4:15).

Fourth, the inability of sinners to please God will be inexorable.  Just as leopards can’t change their spots (Jer. 13:23) sinners can’t please God -- never have, never will.  All the cajoling of religious authorities, all the charity of benevolent philanthropists won’t change a sinner’s status before God (Rom. 3:10-18) in calendar year 2012.

Fifth, the hatred of your spiritual enemies won’t change in 2012.  Expect the accuser to accuse, the world to seduce, and the flesh to oppose.  It’s what they do and the forecast is for more of the same.

Sixth, God’s grace won’t change in its sufficiency in 2012.  Whether faced with the opportunity to bless (2 Cor. 9:8), or struggling with trials (1 Cor. 10:13), everything you receive will be a mercy from God.

But lastly, there are some things in 2012 that must change: God’s people must change.  They must be born again (Jn. 3:7) because they must see the kingdom of God.  They must repent of their sins because they can’t perish (Lk. 13:3), and they must believe and treasure Christ (Heb. 11:6), because their pre-ordained inheritance demands their trust and obedience.  All these “must” changes never change in how God deals with His children.  They’re as  immutable as God Himself -- which is far greater than any resolution you can make for yourself in 2012.

~Mark LaCour