It’s Time for a Change

by David Wise
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Topics: Christian Living, Christian Growth

At the start of a new year, many people hope for a change for the better. But what must we do for that hope to become reality?

As many in the world gathered together to celebrate the beginning of a new year, millions hope that 2013 will be better than the previous year. You don’t have to go far to see that mankind knows things could improve. People are longing for something different.

People are hoping for change. They see what is happening all around them, whether it is what’s happening in the world, with all its violence and corruption, or whether it is in their own lives, with all of the personal problems and uncertainties that life can bring.

“It’s time for a resolution,” they say. “This year has to be better than last year!”

Where will change begin?

But for all the reveling and the hope for the future that so many look for at this time of year, what will actually bring any change? What will be the catalyst for that change—the driving force behind it? Is hope for a better life, a better world, enough to bring the change that so many want? Where should we begin making changes?

There’s a lot of talk about the U.S. falling off the “fiscal” cliff, but what we all should be most concerned about is that our world has been falling off the “moral” cliff. All other resolutions will be futile if we don’t turn to God.

Time is ticking, and unless we address this most important issue and listen to God, we will surely fall over that cliff.

Seek wisdom

This world is in great need of godly wisdom.

In Proverbs 1:20-24 wise King Solomon tells us, “Wisdom calls aloud outside, she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words:

“‘How long you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded.’”

Moses also had a little to say about this wisdom. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

A personal guide

We have this scripture as our own personal guide to help us make the change necessary to insure our future. It gives us pause to think about our own mortality. This does not mean that we should fear death, but that we should have an appreciation of the uncertainty of when life’s end will come for us, and we should want to live again.

The desire to live again is strengthened because, as change occurs inside of us, we see the benefits of having God as our guide. We see the benefits of keeping His commandments. The love He gives us is very addictive, and we can’t get enough of it. There are countless rewards for obedience.

A change worth celebrating

The world needs change, that’s for sure, but there’s a certain sadness at this time of year. As we see millions hoping for change, they are leaving out the One who could help them achieve it. God has laid out for us His righteous commandments as our guide, out of true love, and there is no other way.

It will be wonderful when the day comes that many will seek the Lord and join God’s family with a new attitude on life, bringing the change we all need! Isaiah prophesied of the time when “many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2-3).

Until then, may we seek spiritual change now that will insure a change in the future for each of us. As righteous Job said, “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, until my change come” (Job 14:14). 

That change is called the resurrection, and It’s a change worth celebrating!

Date Posted: January 2, 2013