The Miracle of Change – Sunday, December 27, 1981
Philosophers have argued that change is impossible. How can a person be what he is not? How can he become something other than he is?
Scientists, on the other hand, have pointed out that the world does change, and we in it; but physical scientists say that the principle governing most change is a downward spiral of decay.
Philosophers have said we cannot change; scientists have said we can, for the worse.
And yet, we long for change for the better. We long for a time when we might change our weakness for strength, our strength for courage, our courage for hope. And we look forward to those transitions that seem to indicate there is hope of our changing.
For this reason, the beginning of a year takes upon itself some of the significance of the beginning of a life, a new life. We look forward, and we say: “I can do better than I have done; I can be better; I can make a better life.”
And we can! The joyous hope of living is its changing, and our ability to change, to improve the quality of our lives.
But in that hope, we must not forget the warnings of the philosopher and scientist. No, change for the better is not impossible, but it is difficult; there is in it a small miracle.
And that miracle of change, of repentance, as it usually is, inevitably is linked with the miracle of forgiveness. God is the response to answer the philosopher’s argument, the catalyst who resolves the scientist’s observation.
We can change because a living God has promised to help us and to overcome philosophical and scientific reservations through the simple power of His grace.
“…ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” wrote Paul to the Colossians,
“And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
So, it is possible for us to change our old ways for new, to change our lives and make them whole.
It is not easy. The miracle of change depends upon the miracle of forgiveness, and forgiveness depends upon our willingness to change. Change is a circle of dependence—of us depending on God, and God awaiting our actions and our hearts.
But through that unity and the change that it makes possible, the New Year may be a New Year. Not simply another year, but a year made new by the change in us.
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December 27, 1981
Broadcast Number 2,732