The journey of faith has taken me many places. I’ve gone from knowing nothing to thinking I had everything figured out, to realizing I was right in the first place. My many pet insights were revised or totally abandoned when new light was revealed. I’ve examined matters from head on only to realize that there were many facets and angles to consider. Most of what was once held dear has been – and is constantly being – questioned.
Though this could be disturbing, the words of scripture bring comfort. A Psalm says, “God will hear and humiliate them because they do not change.” Popular Bible teaching promotes that this refers to a one-time transformation. Personal experience tells me otherwise.
Shedding old beliefs that no longer line up with our spiritual understanding as we grow seems to be OK with God. We could stay in one place and never change, and sadly some people do. But according to the Bible, that would be just plain humiliating.
Great post. As John Wesley said, “When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.”
“Better Change” reminds me that our relationship with God is dynamic and we are admonished to “grow up in our salvation.” As we learn more about what is involved in committing our lives to God, we must keep making adjustments in our thoughts, words and actions. So many times in my life the beliefs I had proved insufficient or misguided and I had to dig more to renew a meaningful connection with God. Along the winding road of experience, I have come to the conclusion that we must each live and grow perfect in our own faith. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we can all get to the finish line if we humbly and open-heartedly seek God’s will for us and learn new lessons as we go.
amen brother