2 Corinthians 3:7-8: “But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved in stones (the law) came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?”
Many people resist change. I am one of those people! Twelve years ago a friend helped me decorate the dining room, and to this day I have not updated a thing. I mean, if you are comfortable with the status quo, then why rearrange things? But not all change is bad — some change is for the better.
For our family, like it or not, this has been a year of “new.” Our children are growing older and leaving for college. The house is quieter at times (and it stays a little neater). 🙂 We moved our company from one location to another and had to organize a new office. In May, Luke will be getting married and will start his own home. Though at first all this “newness” felt a little scary and uncertain, I have come to realize that when you say goodbye to old things there is always a hello to other new and exciting things.
When Jesus came to earth in human flesh, a huge change took place. In the Old Testament God established a system of living for the children of Israel. It was given to Moses at Mount Sinai. While on the mountaintop God wrote the Ten Commandments on a stone tablet and expected the people to follow these laws. The whole nation of people agreed that they would obey all that God had said. But before long it became evident that complete obedience without God’s help was impossible.
For thousands of years the Israelites tried to live by the Ten Words that God had spoken. The religious leaders began making other requirements and restrictions to assure the people would adhere to the laws, but these only made life harder. It caused people to judge their relationship with God based on the things they were doing or not doing. It truly became a source of pride and slavery.
Very honest people realized they could never accomplish all that was expected on their own. Why? Because from the time of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, a sin nature passed to all men. From that time no one has been right with God or has been able to remedy the problem no matter how hard they tried.
When Jesus came to earth things changed. His death and resurrection brought a new way of living. Those who recognize their need for a Savior and turn to the Lord, releasing the old way of trying to please him, can find hope for their broken relationship with God. When in their helplessness they accept this new way, which is through Jesus Christ, they are cleansed from their sins and can gain access to God the Father. God’s Spirit enters their life and provides the power to live the way God meant us to live. Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty from sin and rule-keeping, and he does the work of transforming us.
But many people resist this change. They can’t accept that the system of keeping the law doesn’t work, and it can never make us acceptable. Our standing with God is not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us (Titus 3:5). All we have to do is believe.
Change is not always bad. Sometimes it is really good. The new way of life through grace by faith is far superior to the old way of trying to keep the law of God on our own. I am so glad Jesus came to make this possible. So let’s get on with the change. There is something far better ahead.
Out with the old and in with the new!
Love,
Mama
