Prayer Update

     We live in a world of change.  Although there is a persistent resistance to change, there is also a pervasive reality to change.  Bob Dylan observed decades ago “the times they are a’ changing.” Many of the changes that occurred in the 1960’s, however, were as frightening as they were far-reaching.  Mankind took giant steps technologically, but stumbled and fell morally and spiritually.  One ways to experience the positive aspects of change is to welcome it as a challenge rather than regard it as a catastrophe.

     The challenge of change is a message I’ve preached from John 3:1-21.  In John 3:3, I’m reminded of Jesus’ challenge to a blue-blooded Israeli intellectual, Nicodemus, that one must be born again (changed) before entrance to the kingdom of God is possible. (See also 1 Cor. 15: 50, 53.)  We are warned that failure to change will result in judgment and death (John 3:18).  Jesus also reminds us that this change is necessary because of the problem of sin in the human heart (vv. 19-20).  Sin short-circuits the God’s work of sanctification in our hearts.

     Many want to change, but like Nicodemus they asked “how?”. (John 3:4, 9.) A similar argument was raised in Jeremiah 13:23, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?  Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” Jesus’ answer to our dilemma is the requirement to be “born of the Spirit”(vv.5, 6).  He emphasized God’s willingness to give us His change agent, the Holy Spirit (see Luke 11:13).  The Spirit of God doesn’t just reveal our iniquities, He helps our infirmities (Rom. 8:26).  The Spirit helps us learn about Jesus (see John14:26, 15:26).

     What a wonderful change takes place when a person believes the Gospel and receives Christ as their personal Savior (see John 3:16-17; & 2 Cor. 5:17).  A change is coming (see 2 Peter 3:10-14).  Are you ready? “Behold I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52).