Psalm104:19 reads, “God made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.” Our Creator fixed those times at creation (Genesis 1:14). I find this thought of consistent order under our unchanging God’s hands comforting, as I find myself in a season of great change.
In 15 years of pastoral ministry, I have witnessed a lot of change. Our great enemy death has claimed so many friends. Church members may suddenly appear, then vanish. Old leaders I relied on step down, new leaders rise. I watch as my own children are growing up. My hair is beginning to shine with new white hairs. Time answering to our Creator’s drum beat marches on.
The familiar fades. The predicable deteriorates. However, we can and must “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). We can have great joy in the Lord with every season of change. First, because our God is unchanging. This is good news, for His promises to us are unchanging. “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). Our salvation is dependent on our unchanging God, not on us. Life everlasting is promised by He who lives forever and does not change!
In Isaiah 40, the prophet compares our flesh with grass and asks to consider the beauty of the flowers in such a field of grass. The grass withers, the flower’s beauty fades when God breathes on the field. But the Word of God endures forever. Never dying. Never fading in beauty.
In every season of change, our unchanging God washes us with the water of His Word (Ephesians 5:26). We are in need of change, and our unchanging God is good to change us through every season that we might be presented to Christ as a bride beautifully adorned by His Word which never dies nor fades in beauty.
Now, dear reader, consider this. Our unchanging God is to be delighted in during change. Do not let your heart fall into bitterness when the familiar fades and the predictable deteriorates. Rather, delight yourself in the Lord Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Christ Himself is to be our comfort and joy, not familiarity and predictability in our earthly life.
When the temple was rebuilt as recorded in Ezra, some saw it and shouted with joy! However, the folks who remembered the glory of the first temple wept (Ezra3:12). Things are not what they once were. They took a look at such great change and wept while others rejoiced in the same sight. We should rejoice that God would give us life long enough to witness change and to see His faithfulness from generation to generation as He raises up leaders in their youth.
For our Creator’s drum beat marches toward that final day when all the world’s troubles and sorrows will be swallowed up forever. Oh, beloved child of God, our Savior’s hands will wipe away the tears from our eyes for the last time (Revelation21:4)! No more sorrow. No more pain. We will enjoy the comfort and joy in the presence of our unchanging God…forever.
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