LEARNING TO CHANGE

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord – 2 Corinthians 3:18

God is the Unchanging Changer: “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Mal.3:6). The Unchanging Changer however changes the times and the seasons (Dan.2:21). Jesus – the same yesterday, today and forever – came to earth to bring the Father’s ordained change to the eternal destiny of humanity (Heb.13:8)! Everything in life wears away. Everything in life has an expiration date. Even the spiritual requires regular renewal (Rom.8:29-30; 2Cor.3:18, 4:16-18)! God and His Word alone are permanent!

God changes us to initiate changes. Change was the key purpose of the Spirit’s Outpouring at Pentecost (Acts 2:37-39). Paul was an agent of positive change in the midst of Christo-Judaism. In today’s text, we see how God moved upon Peter supernaturally to teach him to change and through him change the course of Christianity (Acts 10:10-15). Believers are meant to be catalysts of positive change wherever God situates us, rather than victims or casualities of change. Change is the most constant thing in nature. Life is a consistent movement of change, not a monument of memories. Life is more about future possibilities than past memoirs.

Therefore, one of the most important areas of learning on the pathway to the Land of Uprightness is to “Learn to Change”! Learning per se is not changing. Mere acquisition of knowledge – scientific, psychological, sociological or even spiritual – doesn’t automatically renew your mind or change your life. There are highly-educated people whose lives are total failures. Many ‘learned’ people still wallow in ignominy in a land of opportunity. Some educated individuals self-destruct with drugs and alcohol abuse; have shattered marriages and homes; mess up their destinies; and some end their lives in suicide. So, learning can be an asset, but the desired kind of learning must be defined.

Whatever else you may learn, you must ‘Learn to Change’ into the Will of God. Living in the will of God is the highest kind of life any one will ever experience: this comes via the transformation of our minds, by the help of the Holy Spirit (Rom.12:1-2). The alternative to changing is to suffer unduly (Pro.27:12). Those who do not appreciate change, experience chains. People often find it difficult to deal with unexpected change because they become too attached to the status quo, and it is traumatic when this is taken away from them. Change isn’t easy, but it is possible. By the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to change and be transformed “from glory to glory” into the Image of our Saviour – into the Perfect Will of our Father.