Will Things Ever Be The Same Again?

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As I reflect on the events over the last several months—the coronavirus lockdown, stock market crash and subsequent gyrations, protests and riots across the country and across the globe—it’s natural to wonder, “Will things ever be the same again?”  The answer, of course, is no; they won’t ever be the same again.  But then again, that has always been true throughout all of history.  Nothing stays the same in life: people change, cultures change, morals change, values change, economics change, churches change, etc.  So the prospect of change should not unnerve us.  It’s a normal, natural part of all of life and always has been.

The challenge for us, then, is to look past these changes toward the heavenly goal for which we all strive and to cling to the enduring truths that will never change.  While all the world around us changes, as do we ourselves, the things that won’t change are what we should center our lives around.  First of those great truths is the end for which we were created.  We were created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7).  We exist to make much of Him.  The changes that are rocking our world at present don’t have any impact at all on our ability to make much of the Lord.  The other great truth that will never change is the person and work of Jesus Christ.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  His atoning work on the cross will never change. Through faith, we have received forgiveness of our sins and are therefore bound for heaven—the true heaven in which God Himself dwells eternally.

People have been vainly seeking to create heaven on earth for all of human history.  We will never succeed.  That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to make things better in the meantime.  But we must recognize, though, that until Jesus returns, sin will continue to have its disturbing and insidious effects on cultures, peoples, and each of us individually.

One of the hymns that comes to mind in these days has a familiar and comforting refrain:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

This is both a beautiful truth and a most timely exhortation in these turbulent days. Brothers and sisters, let us work to encourage one another toward that day when we come face-to-face with the Lord of all.

In full confidence of the return of the King,

Tim

Tim Tomlinson
President

Prayer Requests:

  1. Please continue to pray for peace in the city of Minneapolis and all the cities around the country that have experienced violence and unrest.  Pray that there would be a revival of faith in Jesus as people see the hopelessness of anger, outrage, and violence.
  2. Please continue to pray for Bethlehem College & Seminary during these extraordinary times.  Pray especially for us as we work to prepare our school for reopening in the Fall.  We are working hard to create an environment that fosters community and discipleship, but within all the appropriate safety guidelines in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
  3. And, as always, please keep praying for our school’s finances.  There are many institutions of higher learning out there that are struggling over financial matters and the coronavirus situation isn’t helping.  Please pray for the benevolence of God to continue to be upon us and for us to finish out our fiscal year strongly by raising the final $19,467 needed.