(May 09, 2021) Carol Round reminds us of…

If we need a reminder of the changes that have occurred in our world, we only need to study history. One can also read newspaper headlines or listen to the daily news. Nothing stays the same. If it did, there would be no news to report.

Change
A post on Facebook reminded me of how times have changed since I was born… and maybe since your birth.

The list was long, but here are a few of the mind-boggling changes mentioned:

• Did you ever think in 1998 that three years later, you would never take pictures on film again? With today’s smart phones, who even has a camera these days? While I still do, I take more photos with my iPhone than with a camera.
• In 2018 the first self-driving cars appeared on the road. Talk about changes.
• Technology has invaded our world creating unimaginable changes in every area of our lives. If you’re old enough, you can recall a world before colour television, computers, microwave ovens, and computerised medicine.
• I had my second knee replacement recently (Thanks to all who’ve been praying for me! I’m continuing in my recuperation and appreciate your prayers). Four years ago, I had the first one done. During the time span, technology has brought improvements to the procedure, and my latest surgery involved the use of a robotic device.

Choice
While technology and other advancements bring changes to our lives, many – including me – sometimes complain about the negative effects of these innovations.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the technological advancements that make our lives better, and sometimes easier.It’s when we allow them to take over our lives, such as in spending too much time on social media, that I consider the negative side effects of change. Or when people use social media to stir up trouble.

I think we can get into enough trouble on our own. Trouble follows us when we choose the wrong path.

For example, study the life of King David. Although he was a great achiever, when he sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, that choice led to change and consequences for which David had to pay the price, including the death of his son.

Consequence
David wasn’t the only one in scripture who had to pay the price of disobedience!

In the very first book of the Bible, we read of the first couple, Adam and Eve. They were living in paradise… until they disobeyed God’s command to refrain from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It was not on the approved menu list!

• How many others in scripture paid the price for disobeying God?
• How many of us have paid that same price? Because of our sinful nature, we all fall short of the glory of God.
• Romans 3:23 reminds us that ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ and Romans 6:23 declares: ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’

Sadly, God’s only Son was called on to make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Our refusal to obey our heavenly Father led to what some would describe as the most horrific death in human history.

Challenge
We’ve just celebrated all that Easter really means to the Christian… but while Jesus paid the price for humankind’s sins, we still don’t measure up.

We’re sinful creatures by nature and the only one who can save us is Jesus Christ… but it requires us not only repenting and confessing our sin – we must turn from our disobedient ways!

The apostle John put it very clearly: ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1John 1:8-9). 

Christian author and apologist David Hunt once said, ‘That the Father and Son would love sinners that much is beyond our comprehension – but it ought to awaken a response of love and gratitude within our hearts that will change our lives forever!

The challenge is before us! To comprehend and confess… and then to cling to Jesus and God’s word.

Cling!

• God’s word never changes.
• His Son Jesus ‘is the same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8).
• For us to embrace his steady presence, we need to surrender fully to the change!
• When we do, we can cling to his robe, to him, knowing he will never leave us nor forsake us.
• Isn’t that the best news you’ve ever heard? Jesus will always be with us and help us make right choices in these troubling times!
• Psalm 63:8 (below) too is so encouraging.

 I encourage you to cling to Jesus in today’s changing times.

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Carol Round is an international self-syndicated Christian columnist, author and inspirational speaker. Carol follows her passion of using her writing and speaking abilities to inspire others; Her encouraging articles have appeared in national and international publications such as Assist News Service (www.assistnews.net founded by Dan Wooding) and she especially loves hearing from reader

Recommended: Growing Confidently in Your Faith. Inside are the musings of a woman who has a heart to know God. Carol Round sees the everyday events of life through the lens of scripture and points out life applications. Inspiration in a thought-provoking, upbeat, down-to-earth, no-nonsense way. Links: A Matter of Faith weekly column: carol@carolaround.com / www.carolaround.com.
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