Change
Human beings seek homeostasis and resist change. Homeostasis feels easy, comfortable, familiar, secure, and we like to feel those things. We prefer those feelings over the alternatives – difficulty, discomfort, unfamiliarity, and risk. The problem with this choice is that change is a constant in the realm of God. Growth, transformation, restoration, redemption, reclamation, deliverance, revolution, development, conversion, sanctification, emancipation, rescue, salvation, and freedom are all terms of change.
Jesus Embraced Change
In every day of Jesus’ life, change was His constant companion. One day 5000 people followed Him to hang on His every word (John 6:5-14); the next day most of His followers left Him except His 12 closest friends, and even the 12 were questioned by Him if they would leave Him also (John 6:66-67). He moved from place to place to place, never knowing if He would be received or rejected. He spoke change with every word: change from the hypocritical Scriptural interpretations of the Pharisees, change from bondage to sin, change from a life lived for self to a life lived from love. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) list change after change after change in attitude and action and result.
Jesus called His disciples to leave everything behind of their old lives, and taught them change as a lifestyle: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5:36-38). Paul also speaks of the truth of change through Christ: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17); and “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
You Can Embrace Change
If we are to be followers of Christ, we are choosing to reject homeostasis and to accept growth and change as our way of life. The consequences of discomfort and unfamiliarity will come along with our choice, yes. But the freedom, joy, and peace provided by Christ will fill us and carry us through, superseding our desires for homeostasis in exchange for a life lived more abundantly. Simply put, we can’t have it both ways. We cannot live in the Kingdom of God, with all of the change inherent in our process of transformation, and maintain homeostasis. To choose Christ is the discard the old completely, and to fully embrace the incredible adventure of a life lived for love.
