I have been pondering this week how quickly culture can change. I mean, just think about the last three months! In March, we were encouraged to “social distance” from others. What the world! I had never even heard of that term before then. Suddenly, if you wanted to spend time with extended family or friends you were an evil dredge upon society! People were literally being shamed into not associating with others. Even as things have loosened up lately — there are still people who are practicing this new isolation, and they are shocked that those around them are not.
America… the United States of America… The sports capital of the World… suspended the NBA, NHL and MLB seasons. NASCAR is running 500 mile races around tracks that host 150,000 EMPTY seats. World War II and COVID-19 are the only events to cancel the Olympics. Don’t get me wrong… I am not ranting here… the death toll is tragic — I am just in awe of the rapid culture switch that has been so readily embraced by most in our society.
Just in the past two weeks, racial injustice protests have happened from small town America to our largest cities. Riots, looting and violence have spilled over into many places where it had never been seen before. Black Lives Matter has moved from a radical left-political movement to a phrase that has become a rallying cry across race, politics and multiple generations. Suddenly we are having significant conversations about race that have never been had before now.
Churches closed their doors and began to provide “virtual” worship services. Government officials held daily news conferences with updates and directives. Toilet paper became a commodity on the level of silver, and people were washing their hands until they were chapped. Travel slammed to a halt.
All of this stuff is NEW to our culture in just the last three months, and the ramifications have been huge! Over 100,000 have died of COVID-19. The US economy that was at its strongest in decades has been decimated. Suicide and other mental health related problems have skyrocketed. Businesses have closed. Property has been vandalized. Lives have been stolen.
Yet it is in the midst of this unsettling change Christians can find comfort in one of the great truths of our faith. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLT Praise God! Our Savior NEVER CHANGES! His love for you… NEVER CHANGES! His plans for your good… NEVER CHANGE! His desire to see you know Him more… NEVER CHANGES! His future plans for your Eternity… NEVER CHANGE! His sovereignty over His Creation… NEVER CHANGES! His promises for your life…. NEVER CHANGE!
A.B. Simpson said it so well in his famous hymn…
“Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same,
All may change, but Jesus never, glory to His name!
Glory to His name! Glory to His name!
All may change, but Jesus never, glory to His name!”
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