Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher once said, ‘The only constant in life is change’.
All of us can attest to this but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic which has made our circumstances so fluid. Our lives have been disrupted in unprecedented ways. I still remember as clear as day the week after our feast to conclude our ‘Prodigal Father’ sermon series when the first stage of government restrictions came into force. We were only allowed to have a gathering of up to 54 people in our church building. The following week, we had to cancel our Sunday service. Who could’ve imagined this happening? It was the start of our many online services and that was the 29th of March!!
Following that, we had to adapt to new rules and regulations with every stage of government restriction. More information to process. More changes to how we keep our community cared for, connected, cohesive and conduct our ministries.
Even as welcomed restrictions are lifted, there are more changes to navigate through. While rules around conducting our church services are relaxed, there is a raft of health and social distancing rules that we need to abide by (I’ll provide an update next week). While I am looking forward to resuming our Sunday services and other activities, they will not be what they were before the pandemic. The feeling of uncertainty remains.
In summary, it is an understatement to say the past three months have been disruptive and a steep learning curve for all of us, not just in terms of church life but life in general. I don’t know about you but I am mentally exhausted from it all. There is only so much change we can handle.
But Heraclitus was only partially right with what he said. There is another constant in life that he missed completely aside from change and that is Jesus and his unchanging character. He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is never up and down emotionally. Even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is (2 Timothy 2:13). He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Let me close with these amazing words from Isaiah 46:3-5,
“I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” (NLT)
In the storms of change that we’ve experienced and will continue to undergo, our life is hidden with the unchangeable Christ, who is our one and only true constant.
Coram Deo,
Mark
Recent Comments