The Gospel Truth
God's change will be constant and wonderful
Dr. Charles F. DeVane Jr. First Baptist Church

I read a story of a man who had a terrible problem. He developed a condition in which he could no longer stand the sight of quarters, dimes and nickels. He worked at a bank, so he had to quit his job. When he went out, he was forced to use credit cards and checks, since he could not give out dollar bills and get back coins. He finally went to a psychiatrist. He told his doctor, "I cannot stand the sight or even the thought of quarters, dimes and nickels. What's wrong with me?" "It's really very simple," the doctor said, "you are afraid of change."

That goes for all of us. Everyone, to some degree, is afraid of change. We prefer the normal, the steady, the way things are. We resist forces and influences that want to invade our comfort zone and bring about change. We are afraid of change.

And, we should be. Change is so often our enemy. Think about how things change financially. Are prices the same today as they were in years gone by? No, they've changed, and not for the cheaper or better. I bought my first gallon of gasoline for 49 cents. Think about how you and I change physically. I'm only in my 40s, but I'm not as pretty, not as fit and fast, and not as healthy as I used to be. Change can be a problem because it seems as if it is always a bad thing. Therefore, we are afraid of change.

One of the reasons God is so great is that he never changes (Malachi 3:6). But God knows we do. And God knows, as we have already discussed, that much of our change is not for the better. God lamented this fact, through his messenger Malachi, in Malachi 3:7.

God says that change is bad.

So far we are all in agreement. We don't like change. Apparently, God does not like it either. In the first part of this verse he says that it is human nature to turn away from God. Here is where secular humanism and biblical truth part paths. Secular humanism believes that man is getting better, evolving higher, constantly changing for the good when given the right environment and education. Now I'm not against good homes and schools, but the biblical witness tells us that no matter what our advantages, our human nature always pulls us away from God.

If you believe the Bible, then you will remember what happened at creation when God put man in a perfect environment with a few simple and helpful rules. God stayed the same, but man changed. Man and woman disobeyed, ran from God and invited trouble into their lives.

If you believe the Bible, then you will recall the history of Israel. God redeemed them as a nation, gave them a few simple and helpful rules, and what became of them? They constantly rebelled, ran from God to idols and invited trouble into their lives. Malachi was addressing this trouble in his day (the rebuilding of the temple and city of Jerusalem from destruction) in this text (3:7).

Even in church history and modern times, the people of God are not as spiritually healthy and effective as they should be. A recent Southern Baptist survey indicated that 29 out of 40,000 churches are showing signs of consistent health and growth. That's less than one out of a thousand! What's wrong? We change, we run from God (most members do not even attend public services regularly), and we ignore his simple and helpful rules (through ignorance and indifference to the Bible). We stand in almost constant need of reformation and revival because we have changed, and not for the better.

Here is the bad news and the good news. Change is inevitable, it is in our nature and it is normally not good. But there is change that is good. There is reformation. There is revival. There is repentance. God has said that all of these changes are very, very good!

God says that change is

good.

The Hebrew word translated "return" is synonymous with "repent" or "change." Naturally, these words are a nuisance. We don't like to return things, we don't like to hear someone tell us to repent, and we don't like change, not naturally. To the natural man change is bad.

But to the spiritual man, to the person who desires to be in a right relationship with the Lord, change is very, very good. Change literally saves our souls, change makes us followers of Christ, and change can make God closer and greater to you every day of your life.

Almost every day I walk. I go out about two miles from my home, then I return, repeat, change direction. Now, the whole time I'm walking my home does not change. But as long as I'm walking away, it keeps getting smaller and does not give me shelter. As I return, however, the house keeps getting bigger and bigger until I enter in and am sheltered once more.

Life and human nature are like a walk away from home. God gives us life, but our human nature takes us farther and farther away from him. There can be a turning point, however, that brings us home and makes God big. This is change, this is repentance, and this is very, very good.

Lost people need the goodness of repentance (Luke 13:3). Backsliding Christians need the goodness of repentance (David, Simon Peter). Even solid believers can discover the goodness of repentance (Job 42:6; Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 3:8 and 1 Timothy 1:15). Change, God says, can be very, very good.

Do you need to change?

The Israelites in this story did not realize that they had changed for the worse and they did not think they needed to change for the better. They thought they could not spare any change. But hopefully, through Malachi's message, through the power of the spirit and the word, they came to see their need and changed.

What about you? Can you spare some change?

All of us are like the two men who went up to the temple to pray (Luke 18:9- 14). Both of them had changed for the worse. One had become more and more prideful. The other had become more and more immoral. Both had sinned, both had run away from God, both had changed for the worse, both needed change for the better. However, only one of them knew it and was willing to make the change.

Which one are you? If you can spare some change, take your cue from the publican and the prophet Malachi. Here is what you must do in order to change:

First of all, quit telling God (and other people) how good you are. Quit looking good you are. Quit looking down at other people who need to change and take an honest look at yourself. God is not interested in you trying to make other people obey your commandments. God is interested in you repenting and changing to keep his commandments. Where have you wandered away from God? Where do you need grace and mercy? Is God big, is Christ lord, are you loving him with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? You cannot change yourself, but God will change you, if you ask him.

Next, determine to become intimate with God by becoming familiar with his word. Don't miss reading it. Don't miss hearing it rightly preached. His "statutes" reflect his character, and his desire to conform your character to his. The purpose of knowing and keeping the commandments of God is not to earn gold pins for our chest, but to deepen our love relationship with him (John 14:15). Regular study, meditation, and obedience in God's word will make God ever greater in your life. It will change you, if you will spare the change.

Finally, realize that change is inevitable. If you are in charge of the process, the change will be degrading and downward. If you yield to God's word and God's spirit, if God is in charge, the change will be constant and wonderful.

Now I wonder, can you spare some change?

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