By Pastor Jeff Wade, The Rock of Panama City Beach
The world is rapidly changing is it not? The saying “nothing stays the same forever” is true. Everything is always changing. I know the weather will be different when you read this from when I wrote it (which is kind of the point) but even the weather is constantly changing. Today, my warm PCB FUNshine is back, but even that won’t last. We simply live in an ever-changing world.
Today is February 24, 2022 and Russia has invaded Ukraine forcing the entire world into a reaction or response. Again, our world is rapidly changing. Wars, rumors of wars, weather, political parties, family situations, people’s agendas, initiatives, and even time itself…. Everything is always changing. Where does all this change come from? As I pondered this today, I was taken to a passage in the book of Daniel Chapter 2:20-22:
“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.”
In other words, all change is orchestrated by God. Yes, even the changes we disagree with and don’t understand for 1 Corinthians 1:25 says, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than any human strength.” So, when I look at our ever changing world, I see many things that make me sad. Many things are happening that I don’t really understand. Some changes I am in favor of (like the change from cold weather to warm weather) and yet other changes sometimes make it seem as if nobody is in control of any of it. I want to give you, the reader of this, full assurance that God is in control.
Oddly enough, the very one who orchestrates all change… is never changing. James 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change.” and Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” So, in a rapidly changing world, it gives me great peace to believe and to know that someone other than myself is in control. Often we want to credit God with the good things in our lives. We say, “Oh God has been so good to me.”
But when the change seems wrong or negative in our lives, we blame him as though we faulted us. We need to be very careful with this way of thinking. God is Holy. He is Sovereign. He is Righteous. He is good. So, no matter the changes, be it large or small… and no matter the ways my own eyes perceive that change, I just know that He is in control. I want to give you a piece of scripture that gives me great hope in my ever-changing world. I pray that it does the same for you.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Please know that all of you are in my prayers these days.
