Change. Some get excited about it and embrace it. Others despise change and would just rather not deal with it. But the fact is, we cannot get around change. The Bible makes this clear in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11. We are creatures who live in time, and we must respond appropriately to the seasons of life as they come. Our family is in a season of change, having moved from Northwest Louisiana to Central Illinois to serve Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Medora. We are excited about this change, but there are many adjustments that come with a move. Boxes must be unpacked and a new house must be set up. New questions must be answered: Where do we shop? Where do we go to the doctor? We also need to get to know a new church family, and our new church family needs to get acquainted with us.
While some changes can be exciting, others can be downright disappointing. In the Ecclesiastes passage I mentioned, there are 14 positives and 14 negatives; they all have a place in life. Life is a combination of good and bad, positive and negative. Look at Ecclesiastes 3:11 which says, “He has made everything appropriate in its time…” Notice it says that everything is appropriate in its time. The writer, who we believe to be Solomon, doesn’t say that everything is appropriate. It’s not. He also doesn’t say that everything that’s pleasant is appropriate. We naturally want all pleasant things in our lives. If we had our way, we’d plan our lives with all pleasant things–no problems, pain, limitations, or anything negative. But God says the good and the bad have a place in your life, and He uses all of it.
The second part of Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He (God) has put eternity in their hearts…” That means that you and I have an inborn desire to know and understand the future– an ability to hope and a desire for immortality which separates us from animals. My dog Ollie doesn’t care about eternity or retirement. Only human beings have the ability to think further out. God has put in our hearts the desire to know the future.
The end of Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.” We have a limited perspective. We have finite minds. We just cannot wrap our heads around it. it’s like an ant trying to comprehend a human being. His brain isn’t big enough. Our brain isn’t big enough to handle all of God’s plan. If you could figure out all of God’s ways and understand why He does everything He does, you would be God. When there is no answer as to why something is happening in our lives, or why tragedies happen, it is in those times we must TRUST GOD, and remember the promise of Romans 8:28- “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” This verse does not say that everything that happens to us is good. But somehow, in some way, God will bring good from it.
Our family is thankful to be at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and in this part of Illinois, and look forward to all that God has planned in this new chapter. If you find yourself in a difficult season needing prayer and support, please reach out! We are here for you. And know that you are always welcome at MPBC. God bless!
Pastor Randy
Excellent