I once read, “Change is inevitable, but growth is optional.” This is such a true statement. When we think about change, we often associate it with chaos. But even within chaos there is opportunity if we allow it. God often calls us to change for growth, opportunity, and a fulfillment of our own God-designed destiny. The enemy will also create opportunities for change, as his goal is to pull us out of our God-given assignment and into disobedience.
Max Dupree said, “We cannot become who we need to be by remaining who we are.” So, as we embrace change, we grow into the person we need to be for the new season in our lives, and God will orchestrate that change when we are living in obedience to His will. And we cannot look at our own self-generated chaos due to our disobedience, pride, evil, etc., and pretend it is God bringing the change. But our God is faithful, and we can give that chaos to God as an opportunity for revelation and growth.
One of the greatest examples of God requiring change is found in the life of Abram. In Genesis 11, we see that Abram’s father, Terah, had already told the family he was moving out of Ur to Canaan. However, we see that Terah made it as far as Haran, and Scripture says, “but they stopped at Haran and settled there…and Terah died while they were in Haran.” (Gen. 11:31-32). And it is in Haran that God then calls Abram to leave his land, his relatives, and his father’s house. (Gen. 12:1-3).
God’s requirements of Abram are significant, and they also apply to our lives if we want to become the person we need to be for God’s purposes.
First, God told Abram to leave his land. Land is the word ‘eres’ in Hebrew and means a designated territory, and it represents our IDENTITY. The land we dwell in defines our beliefs, customs, traits, and culture. Our land is a unique branding we accept about ourselves and serves as an identifier of who we are, how we act, and even how we think. This branding may be a denominational branding that says, “we don’t believe in that”, or a cultural branding that says, “we don’t do it that way,” or even a family branding that boasts, “that’s not who we are!” Our self-imposed identities can set unbiblical boundaries in our lives and prevent us from answering God’s call for change. God was calling Abram out of his old IDENTITY into his GOD-IDENTITY. The land that Abram and his family lived in was an idol-worshipping land, and both Abram and his father were idol worshippers. Abram had to choose to leave his old identity and align with the IDENTITY of the only true God.
Secondly, God told Abram to leave his relatives. Relatives are people of INFLUENCE in our lives. Most successful people are not successful because of the school they attended, their college GPA, or even the family they were born into. They are successful because of those they allowed to INFLUENCE their lives. Abram’s father was Terah, which means “delay”. God had already placed a call on Terah to come out of the idolatrous land of Ur and go to Canaan, but Terah decided to settle, or delay, in Haran. In Terah’s place of delay, he died. Terah’s decision was an unnecessary influence in the life of Abram, and it was there that Abram was called away from his remaining relatives and into God’s promise for him. Today, we can ask ourselves the question Paul asked the church of Galatia, “You were running your race nobly; who has hindered you?” (Gal. 5:7). Who might be influencing our lives that is causing a delay in our response to God’s plan for His Kingdom and for us? We must realize that our calling from God does not find its end purpose in and for our benefit, but for His purposes in the earth. Fulfilling our purpose in God will bring fullness and satisfaction in our own lives.
Lastly, God told Abram to leave his father’s house. How did this differ from leaving his relatives? Abram’s father had died, and now Abram was the oldest living son. He would be the family patriarch, the one the family would look to for family decisions and guidance. God was asking Abram to give up the IMAGINATION of being Abram, or an exalted father, to becoming Abraham, the father of multitudes. God was asking Abram to imagine the possibility of being more than the patriarch of a single family to becoming the patriarch of multitudes of families. IMAGINATION is important because it allows us to see beyond what we can see with our natural eyes. IMAGINATION activates supernatural vision that sees beyond temporary delays, difficulties, inconveniences, and questions about the future. The Lord told Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you…” (Jeremiah 29:11). The word “plans” actually means thoughts. God has an imagination about us; His imaginations are for our good, our welfare, our purpose in life. What imaginations are limiting you from seeing what God sees? Without imagination, we will limit ourselves by the roadblocks that will attempt to get us off track, or, as with Terah, delay us in our journey. Terah stopped in Haran, which means “mountainous.” When we do not have imagination, we allow the mountains to become larger than the promise, and these mountains will block our view of God’s promise and purpose in our lives.
God told Abram to get rid of his old IDENTITY, his hindering family INFLUENCES, and his limiting imagination and begin to IMAGINE what is possible when God is involved. Change had to occur for Abram to become Abraham. Change is inevitable, but will we allow growth to happen? When we remain victims to change rather than conquerors over it, growth will never occur.
Change is inevitable. Growth is an option. Choose to imagine what God will do when you allow Him to be in control!
God is doing a new thing, and many sense that God is calling His people to leave behind their old identities, negative influences, and limited thinking, and enter into the new thing that God is orchestrating for His church. What is this new thing? It is a renewed passion to return to the God of the Scripture and not a manmade replica of a Christ that is unbiblical. Why does God need a new thing? God wants His people to become the church that does the same works of Jesus. (John 14:12) God wants His people to become a people that will destroy the work of the devil. (1 John 3:8) God wants His church to be the church that the gates of hell will not prevail against. How do we know we need this change? As we look around us we see a nation that tolerates and celebrates the works of darkness. We see many proclaim Christ, but not live for Him. A very small portion of people in our nation have a Biblical Worldview, including most pastors.
God is looking for the one that will climb the mountain to find Him, as Moses did, even while the others are below making idols of golden calves. God is looking for the one who will say, “If I perish, I perish” in order to do the will of the Lord.
We cannot become who we need to be and remain who we are. Change is inevitable, but growth is optional. Let’s choose growth!
