When this year began, I knew it would be a year of change for me. Although the past three years have been a rollercoaster for the world, circumstances in my life had signaled 2022 would require changes in my life: a new job, new friends, and possibly a new home.

I cannot stand the crazy process of moving. Trying to maintain normal activities while rearranging and packing is hectic. My brain injury is more accommodating when my life is routine.

My disability can make it hard to learn new processes. Most of us don’t like going through changes. Change can bring uncertainty, fear, and conflict. We like having control of situations, that is our comfort zone.

However, if we look at change through the lens of Christianity, we understand its purpose. Both Christianity and science reveal change is good—even necessary for life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9.)

However, change can be scary, that is why we have traditions. Both Judaism and Christianity teach sanctification is necessary for spiritual growth; sanctification ultimately glorifies God and not the individual.

We can see the role of change in nature, March is a transformational month from winter to spring and we experience turbulent weather, it is unstoppable. Insects like caterpillars change and become new creations. Evolutionists believe all life began as one species that has transformed over the millennia.

Transformed!

Last month I wrote an article about the grind of life and how the struggles force us to change and become stronger. Although we prefer to stay in our comfort zones and coast downhill, it’s the climb that makes us stronger.

No matter how much people resist it, change is good, even seemingly harmful change can have its benefits; I learned that the hardway.  As we age, we lose certain abilities, and even our appearance changes. But, as I tell my older friends, the only other option is dying.

Change is difficult, but it is a necessary part of life; especially regarding a Christian’s life. Life as a mature Christian cannot look like an unbeliever’s or even a new believer. Because the Holy Spirit is stripping away the old to make room for the new.

Our old hearts of stone are being changed into one of grace, patience, and love. The disciples of Jesus themselves went through seasons of change from the old lives to their new lives in Christ.

The Apostle Paul echoed Jesus’ command to die to self to be transformed into the image of God (Romans 12:2, Galatians 2:20.) The old must pass away before the new can come, that is the law of nature.

In college I lived like the world, when I hit rock bottom and wanted to change, I couldn’t. It took the old Martin dying in a car accident 25 years ago this month to make room for a new man. My whole life changed: spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This is the life I’ve been given, my new normal.

The old didn’t die overnight, but God has used the time to chisel me for the 25 years to change me into a different person. That is how sanctification works, God working in us to change us and then through us to change the world. The process is difficult and lengthy, but I’m gonna live.

Winston Churchill once said, “Personally, I am always ready to learn although I do not always like to be taught.”

I recently had a chance to share my recovery story with the wife of a local cyclist who was hit by a vehicle and ended up in the same rehabilitation hospital I went to. I couldn’t stress enough how difficult her husband’s recovery journey would be, life after a brain injury is shockingly like starting all over.

Survivors must learn new ways to do everything they had once done naturally before. It is a picture of how the new can only come when the old has passed away. Scripture is clear God is constantly creating new things (Isaiah 43:18-19, Revelation 21:5.)

After talking to the cyclist’s wife, I decided to take a trip down to the rehabilitation hospital for a visit, although I couldn’t see him do Covid-19 restrictions; I was still able to look around the hospital I spent three months learning how to walk.

I was amazed at how everything had changed since it was purchased by a new company, the old handrails I use to pull myself around with were gone and the entire lobby was all brand-new!

Brand-new!

The concept of new is a catch 22, most of us yearn for new things or changes in our lives. Yet, few of us want to go through the process of change; change always comes with growing pains and in some cases even death if you’re washed in the blood.

We see this Catch-22 and many of the encounters Jesus had with others, the rich man wanted to worship God but was sad he had to sell his old stuff (Matthew 19:16-21. Nicodemus wanted to grow spiritually and probably physically; Jesus told him to be born again (John 3:3.)

Life can only begin again from nothing; God created the universe in the beginning from nothing. The apostle John had a vision where the old Earth and heavens end and again there is nothing. Newness can only come from the reverse of the old.

But, in true God fashion, nothing makes way for a new and improved gorgeous earth and heaven. This Divine intervention is the redemption of creation. When our Lord in His glorified body returns to rule over an eternal kingdom, He has overcome this world (John 16:33.)

However, before then everything must pass away. Jesus warned us about the growing pains that must occur before everything changes for good: wars, climate crisis, false teachers, and the tribulation of the saints. Yet, true believers can rejoice because we see how the world is being prepared and transformed (Matthew 24:6-13!)