Change

Change in our society takes on many different forms and occurs in many different ways. Many times people fear change whereas others will gladly embrace it. Webster’s New World College Dictionary has many definitions for the word itself. These are some of the definitions: (1) the act or process of substitution, alteration, or variation (b) to undergo alteration or replacement (2) to pass from one phase to another as the moon. The Bible gives many examples of God administering change throughout the whole text. Some of the most notable changes God can make in a person’s life are salvation, character, and circumstances.

Salvation is one of the greatest changes that can occur in a person’s life. Deliverance from sin and the penalties is probably the most valuable change. The use of one’s lips to implement the act of salvation is very significant. In the Old Testament, receiving salvation and its availability is more difficult than it is in the New Testament. The mere act of speaking to receiving salvation is a very great change as opposed to going before God with the many consequences of approaching Him without it: (Romans 10:9) “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Another great change that is more than worth mentioning is that of a person’s character as influenced by God. The book of Proverbs demonstrates this in numerous verses. (Proverbs 1:8) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This verse conveys a person becomes more receptive to knowledge as a result of acknowledging and respecting God. It is necessary for one to first receive knowledge and wisdom from God before a change for a change of character to take place (Proverbs 2: 1-9) “My son if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity, yea, every good path.”