Change – Part Two

All of us are instinctively resistant to change. The Lord has built into every one of us a clock. When we reach a certain age an instinct kicks in and we don’t want to change. It is for that reason Scripture advises, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

The term translated “old” actually meant “hair on the chin.” Therefore, when a child is the age of a boy who is beginning to grow whiskers the body clock goes off and an inner stubbornness to personal change occurs. The same is true in a girl. It is clinically called “internalization of identity.” It usually occurs between ages 17 and 20. At that point in life we become resistant to change. It is for those reasons advocates of teaching woke morality to young children are so active.

The English word describing why we are reluctant to change is emotions. Emotions are feelings that are loyal to past experiences and decisions. Emotions are an enemy to change. Certain moral and spiritual laws are just as inflexible. As William Penn observed, “Right is right though all men be against it, and wrong is wrong though all be for it.”

Ratheon is a company that developed many high tech guided missiles. Their theme is: “Excellence begins with fundamentals.” 

For stability in life, memorize the fundamentals of faith.  If you realize the value of Scripture memorization you will do it. Base your core values on the Word of God.

You have got to know what is basic if you are going to get back to basics. Therefore, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another….” (Colossians 3: 15, 16)

We are instructed to let “the peace of God rule” in our hearts. The word translated rule can be translated as “arbiter.” An arbiter is one that makes the rules. The word translated rule came from athletic jargon and is the equivalent of umpire. Let the peace of God “umpire” in your heart. Let it determine for you what is good and what should be ruled out.

Leo Tolstoy said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”  You can. The capacity for change lies within you. Whenever you develop the desire to change to become more like Jesus, He can enable you to be victorious over the things that defeat you. 

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)