By David A. Sargent
“The only constant in life is change.” – Heraclitus, ancient Greek philosopher
Who could have ever imagined the changes that COVID-19 and the pandemic have brought into our lives? One wonders what additional changes lay ahead.
Living in a constant state of change, it is good to be reminded of some things that do not change.
God is still God. "For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). The psalmist praised God saying: “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27). God is still God and is infinite in all of His attributes such as holiness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and love.
Sin is still the world’s greatest problem. COVID-19 is a terrible problem in the world today, but it is not the greatest problem. Sin is the greatest problem because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and dooms one to eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Gospel still saves. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The Gospel (“good news”) is that although every person has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), God loves each and every one of us and wants to save us from sin (1 Timothy 2:4). He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
God will save those who obey the Gospel by placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and by being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
Heaven awaits the faithful child of God. An eternity in heaven where “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4), is God’s promised inheritance to His faithful children (Romans 8:15-18). Please remember: earth is not heaven, so we cannot expect heaven on earth. Christians, however, can look forward to “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for” them (1 Peter 1:3-4).
In a world that is ever-changing, it’s good to hang on to those things that do not change. God invites each of us to cling to Him and trust His promises. What God has promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:20-21).
Won’t YOU cling to the Rock which shall not be moved through your trusting obedience?
“The only constant in life is change.” – Heraclitus, ancient Greek philosopher
Who could have ever imagined the changes that COVID-19 and the pandemic have brought into our lives? One wonders what additional changes lay ahead.
Living in a constant state of change, it is good to be reminded of some things that do not change.
God is still God. "For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). The psalmist praised God saying: “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27). God is still God and is infinite in all of His attributes such as holiness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and love.
Sin is still the world’s greatest problem. COVID-19 is a terrible problem in the world today, but it is not the greatest problem. Sin is the greatest problem because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and dooms one to eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Gospel still saves. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The Gospel (“good news”) is that although every person has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), God loves each and every one of us and wants to save us from sin (1 Timothy 2:4). He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
God will save those who obey the Gospel by placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and by being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
Heaven awaits the faithful child of God. An eternity in heaven where “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4), is God’s promised inheritance to His faithful children (Romans 8:15-18). Please remember: earth is not heaven, so we cannot expect heaven on earth. Christians, however, can look forward to “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for” them (1 Peter 1:3-4).
In a world that is ever-changing, it’s good to hang on to those things that do not change. God invites each of us to cling to Him and trust His promises. What God has promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:20-21).
Won’t YOU cling to the Rock which shall not be moved through your trusting obedience?
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
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