A Time to Change
Date: Jan. 4, 2004
Eccl. 3:1-8
Intro
Now, this is the time of the year when people begin to attempt to fulfill their “New Year” resolutions. And to do that we must be willing and ready to accept change.
We’ve been talking about worship over the period of ‘two’ messages – How to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth, and our worship experience is one that should lead us into being conformed to His image; the image of Christ. And to be made into His image and His likeness we must experience change.
The Bible says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Ro.12:2
That is we do not want to be conformed to this world’s habits, styles and manners that are so prevalent today. Rather, we must be willing to let the Holy Spirit work in our lives in such a way that he changes the “whole” man and helps us to cultivate a spirit attached to God.
Change can be the most difficult thing for a human being at times; however, it will be the most rewarding thing.
So, why do people resist change?
In a “Peanuts” cartoon, Charlie Brown says to Linus: “Perhaps you can give me an answer, Linus. What would you do if you felt that no one liked you?” Linus replies, “I’d try to look at myself objectively, and see what I could do to improve. That’s my answer, Charlie Brown.” To which Charlie replies, “I hate that answer!”
Historical account of resistance to change
For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier and object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all times and surely he could not be wrong. All it would have taken was for one brave person to take two objects; one heavy and one light, and drop them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one stepped forward until nearly 2000 years after Aristotle’s death. In 1589, Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off two weights, one weighing ten pounds and the other one-pound. Both landed at the same time. But the power of belief in the conventional wisdom was so strong the professors denied what they had seen. They continued to say Aristotle was right.
With his telescope, Galileo proved the theory of Copernicus, that the earth was not the center of the universe; the earth and the planets revolve around the sun. Yet, when he tried to change people’s beliefs, he was thrown into prison and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
And on and on I could tell you stories of how “resistance to change” has affected people’s physical and spiritual health, an organization’s wealth and so much more. And all because of one’s resistance to change!
There are a number of reasons why many of us, like Charlie Brown, resist change:
Routine is disrupted, it creates fear of the unknown, the purpose of the change is unclear at times, it creates a fear of failure, or the rewards for changing don’t match the effort it requires to change. Or people are too satisfied with the way things are.
But, change won’t happen when people engage in negative thinking.
Regardless of his state in the present, the negative thinker finds disappointment in the future. The epitaph on a negative person’s headstone ought to read, “I expected this.” A sign that was read several years ago in an office building can best describe this type of thinking:
Don’t look – you might see.
Don’t listen – you might hear.
Don’t think – you might learn.
Don’t make a decision – you might be wrong.
Don’t’ walk – you might stumble.
Don’t’ run – you might fall.
Don’t live – you might die.
And I would like to add one more thought to this depressing list:
Don’t’ change – you might grow.
Please open your Bibles to the Old Testament; 3rd chapter of Leviticus.
“A Time to Change”
Today we could talk about, “why” to change, or “how” to change, but I want to talk to you briefly and more specifically about “what” to change.
Transitional Statement: So I want to show you three “particulars” that the Lord wants to change in us if we are going to be blessed and used of God.
There must be a change of:
I. Change of Perspective– Perspective has been defined as “belief\theory” or “reason\excuse”.
A. In the first 1st Ch. of Eccl.vs.2 Solomon says, “Vanities of vanities all is vanity”. That statement is not Solomon’s verdict upon life in general, but only upon misguided human endeavors to treat the created world as “an end in itself”.
B. Man throughout the ages has “failed” repeatedly in his attempts to give meaning to life. Man is not content with a meaningless existence. There is within him a irresistible urge to find rhyme or reason in it; for we God created us thinking persons.
C. When God created man He implanted in man this unquenchable longing for order and system. Yet it only add to man’s torment because the jig-saw puzzle of life cannot be completed; some of the parts are missing. 1:15
D. The last word of human wisdom realized by some of the wisest, is to confess that we know nothing – that the key to the final mystery eludes our grasp.
Man’s wisdom is the “short-end” of the stick. And because it is, it vexes man’s spirit until he finds and discovers, what James 3:17 calls, “the wisdom from above.”
So, man’s perspective has always been that ‘progress’ is always accompanied by ‘regress’. He feels he must seek some pseudo or false immortality for himself, by leaving behind a “legacy from “his works” done or in “minds, they believe, have been made better because of their presence.” They feel a need to “leave footprints in the sand.”
E. So, the “secular” worldview is quite different than a “Christian” worldview.
The Christian’s life ought to reflect God’s perspective – that we’ve been 1) created in God’s image – that we have 2) been given the breath of life & so we are more than mere animals, but we are “spiritual beings” in the likeness of our Creator.
Now you may say, “I believe that everyday I wake up!” but does our life really show it – this is what we are exploring this morning.
F. Our perspective, as Christian, compared to the worlds is as “day is to night”. As oil is with water it “cannot” mix. Neither should one think he can “mix” the two together.
G. The Lord has called us out of the world. Jesus says in John 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
So the Bible teaches us that there is a right perspective and a wrong perspective; (that is what Solomon is really getting at) there is a worldly perspective and a Godly perspective to have.
I want you to see that our” perspective” determines our “purpose”.
So, our “perspective” determines our “purpose” in life.
For example, if a person’s “perspective” or “belief” is that “evolution” is true then he must necessarily accept himself to be a “racist” as well. (Explain)
Not only that but, because your “perspective” is the “evolution theory” then you must believe and accept that you are an “accident” and therefore you must make the best of it until you die.” And it doesn’t really matter what happens to others along the way because we all have the same end.
Consequently, because there everything and everyone is an accident of “random change and processes” it doesn’t matter if I steal or kill; nothing is really wrong or right because there is no ‘ultimate’ right and wrong standard in which to go by. All “truth”, if any, is relative. That is, what is right for you may be wrong for me and vice versa.
So we need to make sure our “perspective” or “belief” is something we know and understand. That is, we should know what we believe and why we believe it.
Because out of our perspective, our purposes and decisions come.
So once we change our “perspective” we will need a “change of purpose”.
II. Change of Purpose -
A. When we have a person has a “misguided” perspective he will therefore have a “misguided” “purpose” which will result in a “unfulfilled” life. Jesus said in Jn. 15:5, “For without me you can do nothing.”
B. Solomon says they think within themselves, “all is vanity” and as a result they treat the created world as an end in itself.
C. This is how many think in the world today – “live and let live”, let it all hang out” – “get it why the gettin’ is good” – “drink and be merry” after all you only live once!”
Vs. 10 of Ch. 2 says, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor.”
D. This is the “world’s” perspective and therefore it becomes their “purpose” to fulfill the “lust of the flesh’ – every evil and selfish desire – the pride of life.
E. However, because the Christian has a vastly different perspective he also has a vastly different “purpose”. Do we understand what the purpose is and are we fulfilling that purpose for which God has given us and called us to?
F. God has made us in His image therefore we are special and unique. (In Jeremiah we read, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”. Jer. 1:5.
Psalm 139:13 “For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Rsv)
This changes everything for the Christian because He knows he has purpose in life. (illus. Seed to egg and “I have plans for you”.)
G. Where is our trust in the Living God? Why do we live as if there are no promises? Why do Christians sometimes live as if their “perspective” and “purpose” in life is no different than the worlds?
H. The Bible teaches us in a number of different passages not to trust: money or riches. We are not to trust in our strength, the strength of other’s or a country’s strength, or a king or president’s strength. Psalm 146:3 says, “Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help”. We are not to trust in our own understanding even. Prov. 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding…” Placing faith in any of these things will result in “wrong decisions”, “defeat”, “regret”, “consequences” and “failure”.
It is clear from scripture that our faith is to be in God alone. He alone is the sole “object” of our “faith.” “For without faith it is impossible to please God.” Heb. 11:6
I. Why do we try to find fulfillment in life through what the world has to offer? Why do we seek fulfillment from a unfulfilling world? Ch2. vs. 11 says, Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on my the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.
Why do some deceive themselves into believing they need to find reward here and now.? Do we really have the perspective we, as Christians profess we have? Do our lives prove our desire is to lay up treasures in heaven, instead of on earth where moths and dust corrupt?
Does the “history” of our lives record that we truly have been Matt. 6:33 Christians? (God-honoring) Are you living a life you “know” God honors?
2Ti 2:19 “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
2Ti 2:21 “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work”.
Are you naming the name of Christ and are you a vessel of honor?
1Jn.1:5,6 says, READ in BIBLE and CH. 2:3 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. And what is His commandment? To press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. And in Ch. 2 of 1John again, vs. 6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” And how did He walk? Perfect.
And our change in perspective will change our purpose, which will result in a change of “priority”.
III. Change of Priority –
A. We will put “first things first” when our purpose is under the control of a proper Godly, Christian perspective that the Bible teaches us.
B. And when our “priorities” are right are decisions will be right.
Elijah said to the woman who had enough oil and bread for her son to eat once and die, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son”.
Elijah was teaching the woman that in order to live by faith she, like we, must have faith that prioritizes. That is, we must have a faith that “puts God first!”
And the woman listened to Elijah and God said, "For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’"
God will take care of you if you will take care of His business first.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Matt. 6:33
Conclusion
When we know we have the right “perspective” we will understand God’s “purposes” in our life which will in turn help us have Godly “priorities” which will result in being “blessed” and “used” of God.
When you look over the past year of 2003 do you see a life of “perspective”? Do you see a life of “purpose” and do you see a life of “priority?
Do these things and let the God of peace guard your hearts and minds this year, 2004 in Christ Jesus.
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