Thought for Today
Exodus 1:8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
John 13L34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Some of you already know that I recently bought a new computer. As part of the upgrade, I purchased the latest versions of my word processor and my data management software. I had been using Microsoft Mail for my email; and, since Microsoft is no longer offering Mail, I got a package that included a new email program. New computer, upgraded word processor, upgraded data software, new email program . . . what could possibly go wrong? Yet, something did. In fact, some things did go wrong. At one point yesterday, I could not open my email and thought I had lost some of my saved files. Greta will attest that I was just a tad ‘grumpy.’
Just for good measure, since all the above did not add enough ‘new and changed’ to my life, Greta and I decided to give each other new smart phones as Christmas presents, so we decided to get them yesterday. New computer, upgraded word processor, upgraded data software, new email program and new smart phones. . . what could possibly go wrong?
I am a child of the Enlightenment and a child of the Reformation. Both are watermarks of change in our world. Like many reading these Thoughts, I am a child of the Electronic Revolution. We were born into a world without computers, without television, without jet airplanes. A world where only the cartoon character Dick Tracey had a communication device on his wrist.
One of the often-heard phrases from the Reformation is Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, Latin for The church reformed, always reforming. Despite the words of the prophet Qoheleth, I often think the slogan for my generation might well be the world around us changed, always changing. I was an adult long before all of those things which brought stress to my life yesterday existed for the general public. “Stop the World – I Want to Get Off is a 1961 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. In 1966 Warner Bros. released a film adaptation of the play. In 1996, a film version was produced for TV, made for the A&E Network. According to Oscar Levant, the play's title was derived from a graffito (Wikipedia).”
I suspect that many of my generation have felt enough angst at the accelerating rate of change of technology to want to adopt and scream out that play’s title. It is easy to become overwhelmed by change. It is inevitable that some of the changes we encounter in life will take time to incorporate into our daily lives. It is part of the reality of our lives and of change that we may never be able to incorporate some of the avenues opened to us by all the change.
But, some change is good, some bad. Joseph and his descendants did not benefit by the change in Egyptian leadership. Jesus’ new commandment wasn’t really so much new as it was a reminder. The Jews knew they were supposed to love each other. Christians today still benefit from Jesus’ “new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
One of my favorite hymns is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. I love the words, “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not, As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.”
Last night, in my final prayer, I talked to God about my problems and frustrations. That hymn ran though my mind, as did Jesus Loves Me. I fell asleep securely resting in the loving arms of our Eternal, Immutable Creator God.
The things that truly matter in life do not change. Maybe Qoheleth was right in that sense, “there is nothing new under the sun.” After all, God created that sun.
Stay safe, do not fear the tides of change, trust God,
Pastor Ray