Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!
I believe one of the greatest longings of the human soul, in fact, the greatest longing of Christians is for the unchanging permanence of all that is good! Unfortunately, life and sinful people around us thwart this longing and desire at every turn.
I am still stunned to this day at all that has changed in my life. Things and relationships I thought would just never change, BAM! Gone, erased, twisted, lost, or terribly malformed.
Oh, how my spirit longs for the unchanging permanence of all that is good.
Over the course of my life, I’ve lived in 25 different houses, having lived in our present home the longest, 23 years! I hope it will be our last house until our permanent residence in Heaven and the New Earth! I’ve had 23 different cars, and sincerely wish the two I have now would last the rest of my life!
I have known thousands and thousands of people over the course of my almost half-a-century of following and serving Jesus Christ. Most of those relationships are either no more or have changed in very significant ways. It still astounds me, even now, to ponder that reality. Yes, some remain steadfast, and strong. You, my Strong Disciple friends and supporters are among them, and I am extremely grateful for each of you. I’m often reminded of that profound truth in Proverbs – Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?
Getting older also brings this harsh reality home in very uncomfortable ways. Our bodies, faces, hair, stamina, and energy levels, simply betray us. They change against our will, forcing on us realities we did not choose. My wife and I have easily walked hundreds if not thousands of miles together since we first met. We walked countless times across the ISU college campus in Ames. Trails in mountains, parks, and deserts. Beaches in South Carolina, Mexico, and Roatan. Miles of trails here in Minnesota. Yesterday as we walked together, tears welled up in my wife’s eyes, as she asked me to slow down a bit, saying, “Mark, my gait is no longer what it used to be, it’s off now and hurts each step I take.” Oh how I wish I could change that for her, but I cannot!
Just a few years ago all of us experienced the wonderful impact of saner economic policies on our economy, impacting our personal lives. Suddenly, in a matter of months, it’s gone! Vanished, destroyed, wiped away! Many have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Each of us has lost tens of thousands of dollars of value in what our current wages can buy or afford. We did nothing to deserve this, it was inflicted upon us, by other wicked, foolish people. You see, once again an illustration that we all deeply long for the unchanging permanence of all that is good!
My friends, my entire life is built not on the changing impermanence of this life, this government, this economy, or human relationships. It is built on the unchanging permanence of God and His unchanging goodness. It is built on His unchanging faithfulness. It is built on His unchanging, loyal friendship. It is built on His unfailing, everlasting love. It is built on His unchanging trustworthiness. It is built on His unchanging mercy. It is built on His unchanging grace. It is built on His unchanging righteousness. It is built on His unchanging truth. It is built on His unchanging ways. It is built on His unchanging power. It is built on His unchanging promises. Through all the brutal, difficult, unwelcome changes in my life, God has been and remains my unchanging permanent home!
Years ago, I wrote a song, entitled, Who I Trust. It contains this lyric the Lord inspired, Through all the chaos Lord, you remain unchanged, you remain unchanged! My life has had much-uninvited chaos. The lyrics to this entire song have been the only reason I’ve survived! The only reason I remain, still, following my Savior! The only reason my soul still thrives!
Who I Trust
Whom have I in heaven Lord but you
The earth has nothing I’d ever choose
My heart and flesh may fail
God never dies
Forever He will be the strength of my life
The strength of my life
He’s my Fortress
He’s my Rock
My Refuge
My God who I trust
The mountains they may fall deep into the sea
The earth may tremble, shake beneath my feet
The people they may rise up, fight your holy name
Through all the chaos Lord, you remain unchanged
You remain unchanged
He’s my Fortress
He’s my Rock
My Refuge
My God who I trust
Jesus, you’re the same yesterday, today
Through all the ages you remain unchanged
Alpha and Omega my beginning O my end
With Jesus by your side you’ll always win, O you’ll always win
He’s my Fortress
He’s my Rock
My Refuge
My God who I trust
Hebrews 13:8 NLT
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Psalm 118:8-9 NLT
It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people!
It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in princes!
It is better to take refuge in God than to trust in people!
For those who would like to hear my song, Who I Trust, here it is. May it bless your soul.
