“Come gather ‘round people. Wherever you roam. And admit that the waters around you have grown, and accept it you’ll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you is worth ‘savin’. Then you better start ‘swimmin’, or you’ll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin. ” (Dylan, 1965). Change is something, which we do not always like or fully embrace. Yet in my forty-two years of life, I have seen a great deal of change. Some of it good and some of it bad. The times they are truly a-changin (Dylan 1965).
I’m sure you have all heard the old saying, “There is nothing certain in life, but death and taxes.” While the times will constantly be changing, with each passing day, month, etc. There are a few more constants in life than just death and taxes. One constant in life, is babies will be born. These babies will grow and explore. They will want and give love. As they grow these individuals will take on a life and personality of their own. They will love and they will hurt. These individuals will make good decisions and they will make bad decisions. See while the times change; new technologies appear while other obsolete ones disappear. One thing will not change. Humanity loves and longs for love, they accept and reject their own for various prejudice. They hurt and long for comforter and they will hurt others.
Another constant in life is God; along with His love and His longing for a relationship with His creation. On Sunday, I had the privilege to listen to my sister Sara bring the message. She spoke from several different text, with her main focuses being the ‘I Am’ statements of Jesus. Her opening passage was that of Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever” (NLT). Reminding us that while the times, may be changing God never does.
Jesus is the bread of life. He is the author and finisher of life. While He provides us with our literal bread; which will leave us wanting. God is our spiritual bread of life. He gives us the spiritual nourishment to grow, into the men and women He would have us to be. When we allow God to nourish us with the Bread of Life, we are never left wanting. True it creates a longing for more of Jesus. Leading us to live into the two greatest commandment, loving the Lord our God with everything we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Jesus is the way the truth and the life. For centuries humanity has been trying to find different ways to God. This has lead us to try to become godlike (Adam and Eve) by taking control of our lives. Trying different techniques to reach God (the tower of Babel). Even at times saying all roads lead to heaven. Or trying to create God in our image. Yet without Jesus we have no life. Without Jesus we can never connect to God. Without Jesus we can never be the men and women God created us to be.
Jesus is the light. Humanity is afraid of the dark. Yet many of us hide from the light. Jesus as the light illuminates our life. He shows us the places we need to surrender. Jesus light warms us in the dark winters of life. Jesus as the light draws other to Him through our witness.
Jesus is the good shepherd. He stays with the sheep. Jesus guides the sheep. He leads us to green pastures. While Jesus does not always keep the wolf away from us. He keeps the wolf from destroying us. Jesus stands before us strengthen us and drawing us closer to Him.
The times may be changing. Yet aren’t we still the same as our first parents Adam and Eve. Don’t we long to love and be loved? Don’t we want to be truly known by God and others? Aren’t we control freaks, chasing after what makes us feel good? Well the answer is yes. But the good news is God is also the same. He loves us so much that He gave His only son (Jesus) so we could have true life. So God doesn’t change but maybe He is calling you to allow Him to change you in the man or woman, He would have you to be. Food for thought. Pastor Travis out.
