The One Who Does Not Change

In 1969 when I graduated from Seminary, there were four websites.  Thirty years later, there were 20 million.  Today, new websites are added every 2 seconds, new products every 30 seconds.  What is fresh and innovative today is stale and obsolete tomorrow.  More information has been produced in the last 30 years than the previous 5,000 years.

The average watch you wear has more computing power than all the computing power used to send Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon in Apollo 11.  A one Gigabite fiber can transmit the text of 35,000 novels in one second.  Unbelievable!  Is there something upon which we can stand firm and confident that will not and can not change?  Of course, there is!  And we are privileged to stand as proud heralds of the Good News, “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8)  As they say, “it doesn’t get any better than that!”

But with the good news comes the challenging news, “Go and make disciples of ALL nations.”  No one is to be excluded.  No one!  Certainly not sinners, nor people who are different than us, or people of different color, nationality, not even ”lapsed Lutherans and certainly not those who have no religious beliefs.  This is hard work.  Exhausting and challenging work!  If the world would only stand still long enough for us to catch a breath.  No chance of that happening.  But let’s remember, we worship and adore and preach and confess and rely on the One who does not change.  He is the same One who promises us, “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

Before PTSD slaps you down, knocks you around, and grounds you in depression and worry, rely on the One who will not leave nor forsake you.  Brothers and Sisters in Christ who serve the Lord mightily, He is by your side to walk with you, in front to lead you, behind you to encourage you, over you never to lose sight of you and before you to show you the way, and give you the strength to be “more than conquerors through Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 8:37)  

Perhaps most importantly, don’t forget to take some quality time for yourself and your family.  They need your presence, your love, and you just being there for them.  And if it ever gets too much, and it can, and it will, reach out to someone who can help.  Even give me a call; I’ll be glad to listen.  (973-875-1931)

Richard C. Izzard