THE PAIN OF CHANGE
In the Nov/Dec. 2006 Issue of the “Prove All Things,” was an article written by Sotero Sonza that I would like to refer to for this article. The title of his article was “Know Thyself.” In his article Mr. Sonza pointed out that there are three concepts of who we are, or who we think we are.
The first concept is: “How we visualize, feel and think about ourselves.” Our self image is not totally accurate. The reality is, we are not capable of seeing ourselves exactly as we really are! The second concept is: “How other people see us.” Other people’s view of us is filtered through their own flawed perception. No one can determine absolutely what is in the mind and heart of other people. The third concept is: “How God sees us as we really are.” Only God knows our true character and what truly is in our mind and heart.
God has made a way for us to see ourselves more clearly. God’s Word, the Bible, reveals to us God’s law and God’s law is the true mirror that reveals to us our true self. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22-25). All this was covered by Mr. Sonza in his article “Know Thyself.”
This bring us to the subject of this article. Once we see ourselves as we really are, then we are faced with the responsibility to change! Change is not easy. To change is a life long process and for some of us change comes very slowly. The reason is, to change is painful. It is called the “Pain of change.”
God is no respecter of persons. In 1 Corinthians, God reveals that He deliberately did not call the elite of this world! “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Cor 1:26). God says that not many wise, mighty or noble men are called. He has chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak and base things, and things which are despised. He knew our character before He called us and yet He called us anyway!! Regardless of how hard it is, God expects and knows that we can change.
Mr.Herbert W. Armstrong, In “Mystery of the Ages” taught that there are two requisites that influence what makes a human being into whatever he becomes in life. The first is our heredity. The second is our environment. Those who are fortunate enough to be born of parents of good stock–meaning good health and genes–average or above average intelligence–good character–who live by and teach sound moral values and grow up in a positive
and up-lifting environment, will have a great advantage over ones who come from poor stock and a negative environment!
This does not mean the more fortunate is guaranteed to be successful in life. Also the disadvantaged are not without hope. Many have overcome and succeeded in spite of their difficulties. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:9-11). “Such were some of you” - so regardless of our background God expects us to overcome and change!
The scriptures show that God promised the nation of Israel great blessings if they would only obey and keep His covenant. “And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, ‘Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me
a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.’ And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him” (Ex 19:3-7). Not realizing their sinfulness and weakness, the Israelites answered confidently: Vs. 8, “..... all that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.” But the history of the nation of Israel reveals that they failed in their promise to obey. It was easy for them to agree, but much harder to do. Nothing is easier then talking and nothing is harder than doing! “The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, ‘Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? She is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto Me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also’” (Jer 3:6-8).
The people like to listen to God’s prophets, but they had no intention or desire to obey. These people failed to do anything. They refused to change. Because of disobedience there were times that God allowed Israel to be punished. Even though many times He sent His prophets and messengers to plead with Israel to change. “Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, ‘Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.’ And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them” (Ezek 33:30-33). Many times He sent His prophets and messengers to plead with Israel to change. The prophet Ezekiel, out of the deep personal concern cried out to Israel. “Why should you die, O house of Israel” (Eze. 18:31).
God also sent Jeremiah to try to persuade His people to return to Him. “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the LORD”(Jer 3:1,12-13). God desired that Israel only acknowledge their iniquity and He would be merciful to them. But they would not! The house of Israel dealt treacherously with God. “Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD” (Jer 3:20).
The hardest thing for people to do is to admit when they are wrong and to repent. Repentance means to turn around - to change!! Repentance is not a popular word today, but Christ warns us in the scriptures that the only way we can be saved is to repent, or to change. “There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” Luke 13:1-5). So in Christ own words - unless you repent, you shall in like wise perish!
Today we have an advantage over the ancient house of Israel. They were carnal minded. They had not received the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom 8:6). On the day of Pentecost the apostle Peter boldly pointed the way to salvation: “Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). Upon baptism we made a commitment just as the nation of Israel did when they answered, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” We repented and committed to change. After baptism, most of us experienced a brief period of euphoria, a feeling of elation or first love. But soon the reality set in and the trials and tests came.
For some of us, by force of habit, the old emotional patterns took over. It was easy to see the problem, but the obstacles appeared to be overwhelming and there seemed to be no solution. A feeling of helplessness set in. But God’s Word reveals that we need not be defeated by a feeling of helplessness. Christ said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me” (John 5:30). The Apostle Paul understood this. He knew that when he was tested beyond his own power, that the strength and power he needed was supplied by God. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor 4:7-11). So it is God who gives power to do what we cannot do by ourselves. Any resistance to change has to be an internal problem. A sure sign of emotional or spiritual immaturity!
It is a great disappointment to still fall short and struggle with weaknesses and problems years after they surfaced. Although perfection is not attainable in the flesh, Christ taught that perfection is what we should strive for. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:48). So in our battle to change, there are things that we all have to deal and cope with that we can’t change. Sometimes it’s the things we cannot change, that if not dealt with properly, can stand as a barrier to our personal growth.
The first thing we cannot change is our heredity and environment. Everyone is a prisoner in their own skin. We simply cannot be some one else. We had no power to choose our parents or the circumstances we grew up in. We have no control over the way we look–our race–tall or short–heavy or thin! Since we cannot change our physical make up, we must accept ourselves as we are. There is nothing wrong with being who we are. Everyone is an original, created by God. Christ is not concerned with the physical. The most important thing is our character. It is the only thing we take with us when we leave this mortal life. The true measure of anyone is their character!! Christ taught that everyone should have the same goal.
In the book of Matthew we read the story of the rich young ruler. This young man was obviously concerned about how he should live his life. He came to Christ and asked, “Good Master, what shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Christ’s answer, “If you will enter into life - keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17). So our heredity and environment, whether good or bad is not important. Everyone is instructed to have the same priority! Keep the commandments!! Seek first the Kingdom–do the best we can with what we are given. All must look into the mirror of God’s law and regardless of how hard it is, we must strive to change.
The second thing we cannot change - is the past. To dwell on the past is a waste of time, an exercise in futility!! It is impossible to change past mistakes and sins. The only advantage or benefit the past can offer, is we can learn from it and be wise enough not to become guilty of the same mistakes again. The Apostle Paul instructed that we should not look back, but move on and look to the future. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14).
The third thing we cannot change, is what other people say, think or do. “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:11-12). The mature Christian knows that to live godly, will bring persecution. Unfair treatment is to be expected. God’s Word teaches that we should not allow revenge or bitterness to control us. We are not to concern ourselves with getting even. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather leave room for God’s wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord’” (Rom 12:19). Christ instructs us on how to deal with persecution. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt 5:10-12).
The fourth thing we cannot change - is the fact that anything worthwhile demands that we pay the price. We must pay the price or other wise we are only wasting our time. While Christ was on earth He bought and paid for us with His own life! He paid the price so we would have a way to receive salvation. But contrary to what the churches of this world teach - we also must pay the price. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:18-19). The shedding of Christ’s blood does not guarantee that we are saved. Christ tells us what we must do. “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt 10:37-39).
In the book of John, Christ said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). If we are to change, we must face the truth and the truth hurts. But it is the painful reality that nothings changes unless we change.
To change is painful, but it is more painful not to change! If we are to enter God’s Kingdom, we must change!! ?
James D. Carlisle