The Only Constant is Change
A number of years ago, the company for which I was working was facing a buyout. For many of the employees this was quite disconcerting. Having been a locally owned regional powerhouse in the electrical wholesale market, the one remaining founding owner had chosen to sell the company to a large global entity based in France.
In an effort to assist managers in guiding their team to embrace the inevitable change that was coming our management team was trained on change management. I learned much in the session but what stuck with me the most was the phase that lead the training and remained in my office in a small frame for a number of years: “The Only Constant is Change.”
It was a bit of a “huh” moment as I pondered this. Not a “huh” with a question mark but a “huh” with a dramatic pause after it. Was this true? Was nothing constant and was there only change?
As I mulled this over it occurred to me that on a secular level this was highly likely a true statement. In looking at the world both near home and across the globe we see again and again a considerable amount of change in people, places, cultures, music, art, business, technology, and the list goes on and on.
It was great relief to know that for me, there was a constant that did exist. Something that did not change. For this reason and more my trust and dependance was based on the one true God and the one true Savior, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:8 makes it clear that Jesus does not change:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
We also read specifically about God in James 1:17c:
“He [God] never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
What a relief it is knowing that in this world of constant change we know our God will never change. Yet change can be and often is very difficult. We don’t know what to expect. We don’t know what it will mean for us personally. We fill in the blanks with the likeliest of negative scenarios. There is more to trusting and depending on God than the fact that He does not change.
God also promises to love us, to care for us and to guide us.
Loves Us: We read this famous promise in John 3:16:
“‘For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.’”
If God was wiling to give His Son to save us, thus we can conclude we are clearly loved by God and that will never change.
Cares for Us: He will never stop caring for us. Its out of the love He has for us that we are well cared for by God. Jesus tells us this in Matthew 6:30:
“‘And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?’”
We also have these instructions found in 1 Peter 5:7:
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Clearly God cares for us and that promise will never change.
Guides Us: The Bible also tell us that we will be given guidance. It’s a comfort to know this especially in this ever changing secular word in which we live. We are promised guidance in these two passages from the Book of Psalm:
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm119:105
and
“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” Psalm 32:8
You may hear that the only constant is change. Yet you and I can know that in Christ, this is not true. He not only never changes but He loves, cares and guides us.
JW