When you can't Change them...

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser and realized the world would not change I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country: but it too seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years I settled on changing only my family and those closest to me, but alas they would have none of it. Now as I lay on my deathbed and I suddenly realize that if I had only changed myself first, then by example I could perhaps have changed my family, and from their inspiration and encouragement to me I would have been better able to help my country and from there I may even have been able to change the world. (Taken from the tomb of a Bishop in Westminster Abbey 1100 A.D).

The chief regret of this Bishop was that he had not devoted most of his energies to self-change enabled by the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the regret of much of mankind. Our resources, energies and talents are wasted on trying to change the other person in the room.

“Generations come and generations go,
    but the earth remains forever. (Ecc. 1:4 NIV)”

Solomon (the wisest of men) made this observation of the brevity of our life as compared to the earth. It is a sobering thought that we barely begin to understand life at the end of our life and then it is gone.

Little changes in us until we commit to allowing God to rule and to be glorified through our living. In our surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives the power of SIN to use us as a destructive tool is broken! The predictable cycle of the nature of SIN in our lives is destroyed and we become a NEW creation.

“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: (II Cor. 5:17,18 NIV)”

A New Creation is a change agent. People are looking for the authentic among a world of duplicates. New Creations are forgiven, authentic, humble, loving servants of Christ. They are human magnets. You can’t help but impacted by a true servant of Jesus.

So many of these servants of God have graced my life over the years. Their influence in my life has created change. The Bishop at Westminster in the 1100’s sadly discovered at the end of his life that religion is not the answer. A true and surrendered relationship to Jesus is the answer. New Creations are born of God not of religious duty.

Are you a change agent? You can be. Who do you want to change the most? If you said: “MYSELF” than you are well on your way. Invite Jesus to be the ruler of your life. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Invite Him to be your daily decision maker. If you would like to know more about becoming a NEW CREATION in Christ contact us at: info@gp.church

World change begins in a single heart.