Malachi
3:4-6 (NIV) 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be
acceptable to the LORD, as in days
gone by, as in former years. 5 "So I will come
near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers,
adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages,
who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but
do not fear me," says the LORD
Almighty. 6 "I the LORD
do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
I was listening to a
radio program recently that was describing the “smart home”. You may live in
one, or you may soon hear of more people “smartening up” their homes. Smart
homes are homes in which there is digital control over anything that depends
upon electricity – appliances, garage doors, gas fireplaces, TVs, stereos, security,
and lights to name a few. Devices are being marketed that allow the user to
simply speak and thus control any device. My son showed me how this worked last
week when he demonstrated the use of Alexa, a product of Amazon.com. You speak
to Alexa as if “she” was a person and you tell “her” to turn on the living room
light and… voila… it comes on. No doubt you have seen “her” commercials on TV. When
applied to an entire home, it’s a fascinating concept: everything controlled at
the tip of your tongue (voice) or the tip of your fingers (computer) or the use
of your smart phone. This radio program discussed a future where homes would
not have/need light switches. Wouldn’t that be such a big change for most of
us? When you spend your life flicking switches it becomes very unusual not to.
I imagine myself reaching for switches on empty walls again and again, having
forgotten to just say “lights on”.
My college friends and I
used to laugh our heads off whenever we saw the commercial for the “Clapper”.
Do you remember those ads? It was a nighttime device designed to control a
light (usually in the bedroom) without having to get out of bed by clapping.
You could “clap on” or “clap off”. While it was a handy device for certain
people in certain circumstances, it just seemed to us to be an excuse for
laziness for the average person. But in the years ahead, modern versions of the
Clapper will only increase in a society highly devoted to and driven by
technology. It will mean higher consumption of electricity (as more home
features – plumbing fixtures for example – are electrified) and potential for
more crime. The phrase “getting your house hacked” is already a part of modern
lingo. Anything digital (controlled by computers) can be hacked. While I don’t
see any particular reason someone would hack my refrigerator, the security into
my home would be a dangerous target. A home network can serve as a “back door”
(pardon the pun) into a computer system, with access to personal documents,
financial systems, and anything digital in a person’s life. Yet the features of
a smart home are fast becoming highly prized and sought after.
When you are older (like
me) you often have a tendency to smile and be dismissive of change. You can
think of many aspects of change as being foolish or unnecessary. When you are
younger change is much more exciting. Innovation is embraced more readily. Now
know those are arbitrary statements and that they are not true across the
board. But I think – generally speaking – they are on target. Change, of
course, is inevitable. But we know that we serve a God who does not change. He
is immutable. We can trust Him to be the same tomorrow – and into the forever future
– as He was in the (forever) past. This is a great comfort and encouragement,
because He is a God who can be trusted. He is One who never fails. He will always
be true to His character and person. He is not just good, for example,
He is always good – because He does not change. I find in Him great
comfort, because the change in my life (and over the course of my life) can be
very stressful and can contribute to worry and fear. But I know that, because
God never changes, I do not have to fear. His love for me, His watching over
me, His care for me doesn’t ever stop or “go away”.
So, when you find
yourself floundering or groping at the switchless walls of life in these
changing times… when you are tempted to be afraid or worried when unexpected or
unwanted change comes your way… turn your eyes upon Jesus, as the hymn says. “Look
full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in
the light of His glory and grace”. You will never go through any change without
the Lord’s presence, guidance, and watch care. He is faithful.
Numbers 23:19 (NIV) God is not a man,
that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he
speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) Know
therefore that the LORD your God
is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand
generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
Psalm 90:2 (NIV) Before the mountains
were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to
everlasting you are God.
Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday and today and forever.
James 1:17 (NIV) Every good
and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in
all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for the peace that is mine
because you never change. Guide me with confidence through any and all of the
earthly changes I face, knowing that you are always working for my good. I love
you. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”
