Christ Is Our Stability In A Topsy-Turvy World

"Today's Devotion" For April 23, 2007

Read: James 1:12-18; Psalm 127

CHRIST IS OUR STABILITY IN A TOPSY-TURVY WORLD

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

How well have you been able to keep up with our changing world? Technological changes alone have been sweeping. I remember learning to type on a manual typewriter in high school; I remember the old, black Remington my dad had at his desk in the basement. Even though we had already landed on the moon, the next step in word processing for me was an electric typewriter. When my wife and I got married in 1980, we even got a new portable electric typewriter - it was soon obsolete; we couldn't even find ribbon cartridges for it after awhile. It's still gathering dust, sitting alone and useless in a hall closet. The old transistor radio I used to carry next to my ear to listen to ball games is nowhere to be found except in antique stores and musty basements. I-Pods, with 3,500 or more songs, are the music delivery system du jour.

Technology isn't the only thing that has changed over my lifetime - and in 55 years I've seen sea change in technology. Society has also changed. From the more staid 50's, we moved into the revolutionary, "Flower Child" 60's, the "Sexual Revolution" and "Women's Liberation" 70's, through the challenges of the 80's and 90's. We're almost finished with the first decade of the 21st Century. The societal changes, the changes in mores, morality, concepts of right and wrong, social justice concepts, and a host of other people-centered changes have been, are, and will be taking place.

People's belief in and relationship to spiritual things has also changed. Already back in the late 80's, when I was serving a congregation, the Barna Institute and the PEW Research Institute both published studies that showed an increasingly, Biblically illiterate society. Even reading the Bible simply as good literature had fallen by the wayside - a situation that continues to this day.

As God's people in Jesus Christ, we're faced every day with a changing culture, often not for the best. What was acceptable one day is now politically incorrect. What was right yesterday will be considered wrong tomorrow because a judge somewhere ruled that something was no longer socially acceptable, even though it is the law. In short, as the hymn, "Abide With Me" states, "change and decay in all around I see..." and we have to live with the uncertainty that that change and decay brings.

Thanks be to God! He doesn't change. No matter what, He still loves us. No matter what, His forgiveness of all our sins in Christ is sure and certain for eternity. No matter what, we can be certain His promised redemption in Christ is ours and that by faith in Jesus we have the hope and promise of eternal life. No matter what changes occur around us in the world, our communities, and even our own families God never changes. His promises are always certain. He never goes back on His Word and He continues to send His Holy Spirit to uplift us in our Baptisms and bring His forgiveness physically into our lives in the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus in the Lord's Supper. Our Father in heaven gives us stability in a topsy-turvy world, for which we give thanks and breathe a sigh of relief. No matter how crazy things may get, how many new gadgets find the light of day, and no matter how many new rules for behavior the world throws out to us, God's will and Word stay the same. In that we are greatly blessed and have a message of Good News to share with others.

Prayer: Father, You understand better than I do how confusing the world has become. Nothing ever stays the same, and while change can be good, there are changes that are taking place because of the power of Sin and Satan in the world that are leading more and more people away from Your love. All too often, Father, I get pushed off course in my life of faith as well. So often I find myself just wanting to do what everyone else does because it's easier than remaining true to You. Father, send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure so that, through the power of Your Word I might be equipped and prepared to stand firm in Jesus, stand solid against the ways of the world, and be a living witness to Your grace, mercy, love and forgiveness in Christ which never changes. Father, keep me ever grounded in the solid Rock of faith in Jesus - that self same rock that led Peter to confess, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.