Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

recent posts

about

Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Changing of the Guard

Tuesday determines the change we’ve all been hearing about for . . . it seems like two years now. This has to be the longest presidential campaign in our history. It might have even begun when Hillary Clinton won her Senate seat because the projections about her running for President started then—which she of course denied until it was time to admit her goal.

Change is constant as they say, but really nothing in the heart of man changes until Jesus takes his rightful place there. Only then will the innate depravity face expulsion and renewal to godly ways. This is the most difficult change of all and the most unpredictable to foresee and the most profound of all changes. It comes as a response to the supernatural courting of the Holy Spirit.

Some people are not easily wooed. Some people play hard to get. Some people surrender to the Master’s love easily and completely. Some people come quickly and leave the same. Some people return from long absences with renewed love and beg to be forgiven for their unfaithful conduct. Some people approach cautiously—unconvinced this astounding love expressed for them is real. Some people react with tentative testing—daring this lover to prove His devotion.

In mighty things this God is constant: He in fact does not change. His character remains the same throughout eternity from our beginning to our “end” as we know it. His beginning and His end do not exist. He is always. We know that He is Love, not only that he is loving, but that Love does not exist outside of Him. To know real love is to capture a glimpse of His very being. We know He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. All those things we think we can gain by learning or knowledge or improving our character and intelligence, He already IS and has always been. Not a single person can give us breath and sustain our lives—even machines have a power source which can fail. Not a single person can give us the direction we need to do or to go wherever it is we must to gain or arrive at all the places and situations we must travel. And contrary to the worldview of such things: Truth is found only in Him. There can only be one Truth in the end—and in the beginning.

So the purported “change” and “hope” we’ve heard chanted is a mirage in the desert of human pomposity and emotion. Man cannot provide positive change. He can ruminate about the lack of it or pretend to promise it, but he is ultimately helpless to give us what we need. Because it does not come from man. It comes from God. And God will allow the worst of things in change to gain the best. The best is of course turning to Him for the answers and solutions to man’s fallen ways, his corrupted ideals, his staggering ineptitudes to produce what is truly needed in mankind. Those things which only God can infuse into the heart of man.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

Posted in

6 responses to “Changing of the Guard”

  1. Daniel Smith Avatar
    Daniel Smith

    I don’t quite follow your logic leading up to the final paragraph. Ever heard the expression, “All change is not improvement but all improvement requires change”? I think there is room for improvement in this world, and short of Jesus’ return, God must use human beings to accomplish this. He in fact chose us to partner with him in transforming and restoring our world for Him and to Him. We can do nothing apart from Him, however, but he does use us. So, why couldn’t He use Barack Obama as President? He certainly used George Bush to transform Iraq which paved the way for biblical prophecy to be fulfilled in that region.
    If God is 100% constant to the point that he will not or cannot change, then how do you explain Exodus 32:14 (quoted here in context)?
    7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
    9 “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
    11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
    Relented in verse 14 sounds like a “change” word to me. Moses even violated God’s direct commandment to leave Him alone to accomplish His divine wrath in verse 10, but God does not hold it against him.
    There are other nebulous passages too like Abraham’s pseudo-sacrifice of Isaac. God told Abraham to kill his son, but stopped him at the last moment? I think it’s clear that God is more complex than a mere description of His being constant or unchanging accurately reflects.

    Like

    Reply
  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    You make a good point, Daniel, but I’m not talking about the actions of God, I’m speaking of His heart, His character. Man’s character is flawed and selfish, out for his own good without the motivation of Jesus Christ. And even then man contends with sin in his life.
    God uses whoever He chooses to serve His purpose and often He uses leaders as judgments to bring His people to repentence and to draw others to Himself. In that way Obama can be used because he’s demonstrated that his character is not for the things of God such as life, liberty and justice and for all.
    1Samuel 15:29
    He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for he is not a man that he should [change His mind]. (repent in the KJV and Amplified)
    Malachi 3:6
    I the Lord do not change.
    James 1:17
    Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of light who does not change like shifting shadows.
    Moses appealed to the heart of God, what God desired. Abraham demonstrated both his obedience to the One who gave him a son and His faith that God would bring him back to life, again pleasing His heart and serving His purpose both short term and to demonstrate His own future heart for man’s rescue.
    Believers are used by God to be His ambassadors, His hands, His servants, His “voice”, His witnesses. Unbelievers are generally used to bring judgment, to instigate repentence. If you are willing to take a closer look at the supposed “believer” status of Obama, you will have heard direct quotes from him which indicate he does not take the Bible literally and interprets it much like he does the Constitution: very loosely.
    The only “proven” believer in this race is Governor Sarah Palin. However, McCain is for life which places him closer to God’s character.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Avily Jerome Avatar
    Avily Jerome

    Great post, as usual, Nicole!
    I’m collecting a gaggle of people to fast and pray for our country from after dinner Monday night until the election is decided Tuesday night, if you’d like to join us in our efforts.

    Like

    Reply
  4. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    You can absolutely count on my prayers. I’ve been praying at all hours and will continue to do so. Thank you including me.

    Like

    Reply
  5. wayne thomas batson Avatar
    wayne thomas batson

    “So, why couldn’t He (God) use Barack Obama as President?”
    That’s not the point. Could God use Obama? Of course. God can do anything. But we might well ask (and we all probably have) something like this: “Well, sure I know what I’m about to do is sinful, but God can still use a sinful man.”
    The question is for Christians, which candidate should we vote for and why? Which candidate’s platform most closely conforms to God’s stated word in the Bible? If you check out my recent post, I’ve given links to both parties’ political platforms. It is absolutely clear that Obama is setting upon the wrong path. Vote McCain/Palin. Again, if you need more concrete reasons why, see my post:
    http://enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/2008/10/christians-get-down-get-up-get-outand.html

    Like

    Reply
  6. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Thank you for your comments, Wayne. And if any of you readers want a thorough analysis of this presidential race from both a spiritual and practical viewpoint, please go to Wayne’s blog. It will be well worth your time.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment