On the one hand, ongoing c-h-a-n-g-e is the inevitable result if we are to be obedient to the the Lord's command (not an option) to increase in the knowledge of the Lord (2Pet. 3: 16, 17, 18) and to apply (James 1: 22) the knowledge we acquire to the events of our daily lives. Romans 8: 29 speaks of born again believers being (an ongoing process) conform-e-d (an o-n-g-o-i-n-g process) to the image of His Son.
On the other hand, as we will see, change is not always for the better.
"As in all his (the Apostle Paul) letters, speaking in them (his letters) of these things (listed in verses10-15), in which some are hard to understand, which the untaught, and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this (scenario) beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error (false doctrine) of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness (level of spiritual maturity and (stop) moving forward in the plan of God), but (continue) to grow in the (enabling) grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...(2Pet. 3: 16-18 NASB italics mine)"
"But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1: 22 NASB)."
There are many who hear the Word being preached on a regular basis, or read the Bible on a daily basis, but fail to move forward in the plan of God. They are no more spiritually mature than the were, six months, six years, or six decades ago. Spiritual maturity is measured by ones knowledge of Scripture and his/her willingness to consistently apply it.
"For those He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed (changed) to the image of His Son...(Romans : 8:29 MASB italics mine)."
This Romans 8: 29 conformity is speaking of the disciple developing and applying the 1Cor. 2: 16 NASB, "mind (thinking) of Christ (italics mine."
Ongoing change (for the better) is a part of advancing in the post salvation spiritual life, but making the adjustments in doctrine and practice that positive changes require can be challenging.
This is what the parable (Matt. 9: 17/Mark 2: 22 of the new vs. the old wine skins (containers) is all about. The new wine is the true Gospel Message and/or post (after) salvation Bible Doctrine.
The old wine skins represent the soul structures of an individual who has not been born again. Such a soul structure is not only incapable (independent of God) of understanding (Romans 8:7) the Gospel Message and/or Bible Doctrine, it is inherently hostile towards God and the things of God. This submerged hostility can become overt when such individuals are presented with the truth (Matt. 7: 6).
While being hostile towards the truth, the soul structure of a spiritually dead soul is very receptive to all the alternatives that are the products and practices of Man-made religion. Such things appeal to the fallen nature is Man, as they appear to be the means for Man to make and to keep himself "right" with God.
It is when one is born again that his/her formerly dead spirit is regenerated (Titus 3:5) and becomes a new creature(2Cor. 5: 17). The regeneration of this new creation is instantaneous and permanent, but the soul structure needed for the execution of the post salvation spiritual life must then be built on the new foundation (1Cor. 3: 10-12) that is laid when one is born again. Unlike the regeneration, the building (2Pet. 3: 18) and the maintenance (2Cor. 13: 5) of an edified soul structure is not as instantaneous event. It is a life-long process that begins after the foundation has been laid.
Many times there is a period of deconstruction that mus take place, removing all of the alternative concepts of Man-made religion that had previously been made a part of one's soul structure before a soul structure made with sound doctrine can be built. The roots of Man made religion grow long and deep and are not easily removed. The part(s) of our thought processes that are under the influence of human viewpoint are "enemy" held ground that the devil and the forces of evil are not going to give up without a battle.
"There is a way (e.g. religion/human viewpoint) which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Prov. 14: 12 NASB italics mine)."
As long as these ways seem right to a man, there is still hope on the devil's part that he can recover lost ground and influence over the areas of our lives that we have not been conformed to the likeness of Christ. The devil lost the battle for salvation of the soul the moment one is born again, but the destruction of one's post salvation spiritual life is still on the line (1Pet. 5: 8).
The older or more settled one gets in his/her ways (Prov. 14: 12), the willingness and the receptiveness to change becomes more of a challenge. God had much to say about this and provided us with a stern warning in Eccl. 12: 1-7.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days (of labor and sorrow - Psalms 90: 10) come and (the end of ) your years (here on Earth) draw near when you will say, I have no delight in them (days remaining here here on Earth); before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars (night vision) are darkened (one's ability to see and appreciate the blessing of God in the midst of the dark adversity), and clouds (more problems) after the rain (existing adversity); in the day the watchmen of house (ability to defend oneself diminishes) trembles, and (what were) mighty men (then) stoop, the grinding ones (remaining teeth) stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows (eye glasses/ eye sight) grow dim; and the doors of the street are shut (afraid to go leave home) and the sound of grinding mill (labor/outside activity) is low (diminished hearing), and one will arise at the sound of the bird (early rising, diminished sleep), and all the daughters of song will sing softly (inability to hear/enjoy music). Furthermore, men are afraid of (falling from) a high place and terrors (criminality) of the road; the almond tree blossoms (on set of greying hair), (we walk like) a grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry (inducing sexual activity) is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home (Heaven/Hell) while mourners (those we leave behind) go about in the street (continue on with their lives). Remember Him before the silver chord in broken and the golden bowl is crushed (brain failure), the pitcher by the well is shattered (lung failure) )and the wheel at the cistern (the heart) is crushed (symbolic language describing process of physical death); then the dust (decaying/decayed human bodily remains) will return to the Earth as it was (Gen. 3), and the (departed) spirit will return to God (for evaluation (1Cor. 3: 12-15) or judgment (Rev. 20: 15) who gave it (Eccl. 12: 1-7 NASB italics mine.)"
God knows how the devil will use the day to day realities of aging as the means to wear down the saints in the final phase of their post salvation spiritual life. It is for this reason that that God admonishes Man to remember Him BEFORE the "evil" days/circumstances associated with aging become a reality.
In old age, born again believers tend to fall into one of three categories concerning their religious or spiritual beliefs and practices.
Category #1 involves those who continue to do what they have done or have not done for most of their lives. Change at any age is still possible, but change is not something that older souls are very receptive.
Category #2 Involves those who begin or return to religious activity in a last ditch effort to reassure themselves that they have peace with God, and to have the means for his/her final arrangements to be addressed. Don't confuse peace with God with fellowship (2Cor. 13: 14) with God. Peace with God is in view as of the day one is born again, and is permanent in nature. Fellowship with God begins at the moment one is born again, but fellowship is conditional. Fellowship with God is dependent on ongoing confession (1John 1: 9) post (after) salvation sin. The quality of one's fellowship is based on his/her walk with God along the path of the post salvation spiritual life. It is fellowship with God that a wandering born again believer is actually seeking. This can take place at any age.
After death (wakes, funerals, burials) after death arrangements here on Earth do nothing to change either the location or the environment of where the already departed soul has already gone.
Category #3 involves those who do to mental or physical incapacity can no longer begin, continue, or return to the religious/practices that he/she once (or could/should) have entertained. God does NOT hold us accountable for what we can not do, but we are accountable for what we could have done when we did have the opportunity.
Not everyone will experience old age, and those who do will not all experience it the same way.
Some, like David's child (2 Sam. 12) will depart this Earth at a very young age. Some, like the Lord Jesus Christ and John the Baptist will depart this Earth in what human viewpoint would consider to be the prime of one's natural life. Some, like Moses live to be relatively old, and yet do not incur (Deut. 34: 7) most of the negative complications (Eccl. 12: 1-7) commonly associated with old age. Some will experience great and prolonged pain and suffering throughout much of their life span, and/or when passing through the process of death.
The timing, circumstances, location, and the manner of death for each one of us is in accordance with the individual plan and role that God had in mind when He (not our parents (John 3: 6) created our soul and placed us in the body of His choosing that was reproduced by our parents. AS good stewards of the body that God placed us in, we should do all that we can to take of it, but there is no guarantee that such efforts will impact the length or the quality of our lifespan here on Earth. The one thing that we can count on is that when our appointed time of departure arrives, we will in fact be gone.
Each one of us had an appointed time to come into this world (John 3: 6), and each one of us has an appointed time to depart (Heb. 9: 27). Some see it coming, others do not. Some consider such knowledge of our impending departure a blessing, allowing us to put our house (life) in order before we depart. Others would prefer not to know.
God does heal and prevent what we would see as premature death, but no one lives beyond his appointed time, and no departs this world one second sooner than his/her appointed time. Scripture () that the time of our arrival and the time of our departure are in the hands of God. One thing IS for certain, that the moment of our departure will be the most significant change that one will ever experience here on Earth, aside from the moment that he/she was born again.
Those of us who are given a longer life span with more opportunities are accountable for what they did with them. Those who are spiritually mature can see that we have spiritual opportunities ever day. Even if we were only give one a day, that 365 opportunities a year times the total years of our post salvation spiritual life. If, for example, our individual post salvation spiritual life consisted of 60 years, that would be a minimum of 21, 900 "opportunities for which we are going to give an account for to God (Romans 14: 12). If one had ten opportunities each day, one every 2.4 hours each day, that figure would rise to 219,000 opportunities. An opportunity takes place every time we have the door opens for us to worship, interact, and glorify God, and to serve God by serving others. For an edified disciple, there is no sch thing as having nothing to do! No matter where we are or what we are otherwise doing, each day is filled with such opportunities.
Perhaps the most common "911" prayer made to God is for the protection/saving/improving of one's natural life and/or circumstances here on Earth. Such things should be made a matter of prayer, but keep in mind that what we request in prayer is not always what God has in mind for any given individual at any given time.
Otherwise, when God does not come through as we hoped for, we can be tempted to question the value of prayer. The devil is certainly not going to let such an opportunity to pass him by.
One the lessons we learn in such scenarios is that having made the outcome a matter of prayer, we can then conclude that whatever takes place or fails to take place, it is/was was God's will. God's will (and answer to prayer) is expressed by what He does and by what He allows to take place. The challenge we face when things do not go our way is to stand firm in the belief that all things do work out for the best (Romans 8: 28), even when we so much were looking for and/or prayed for a different outcome. We are here to do His will (Luke 22: 42), and NOT the other way around.
Prayer is the means of communication between God and Man. ALL prayer receives an immediate yes, no, or not right now, response in accordance with His will, not ours.
If it were God's intention for fallen Man to live on Earth forever, He would not have prevented man (Gen. 3: 22-24) from retaining access to the the Tree of Life that provided the means for Man to do so.
""Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good from evil; and now, he might stretch our his h and, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever--therefore the Lord God sent him out from the Garden of Eden (where the Tree of life was), to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the Man out; and at the east (side) of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every (approaching) direction to guard the way (prevent access) to the tree of life (Gen. 3: 22-24 NASB)."
Man (and even some of us) would have been happy with that as long as things went our way. But things change, and so do/will we.
His plan does not call for us to live on forever, here in the devil's world (Luke 4: 6). This planet is destined to melt away with intense heat (2Pet. 3: 10) after it has completed is use and part in the plan of God. Besides, God has a better place for us (Rev. 22) in mind.
* * *
The challenges associated with c-h-a-n-g-e, be it for the better or the worse, can leave the soul with unsettled feelings in his/her soul structure until the matter is resolved.
Even secular professionals will concur that mental stress in the result of unresolved issues in the mind.
When proposed changes are in agreement with what we presently think or how we presently feel, change is welcomed. The problem is that unless we are the first individual to have learned all there is to learn and have mastered the art of application, there will always be the ongoing need to make more and more changes in our doctrine and practices if we are to be more and more conformed to the likeness of Christ in thought (1Cor. 2: 16) and action (James 1: 22).
Responding to change in accordance to how we feel can get us into a lot of hot water in our walk with the Lord. The woman, later named Eve, was deceived. As a result, she felt that eating the forbidden fruit was going to improve (Gen. 3: 5) their status and the environment that she shared with Adam. Needless to say, she was dead (Gen. 2: 17) wrong.
Contributing factors of a physiological, psychological, environmental, social, familial, economic, and even a political nature can all impact how we "feel" at any given time. Such things, and the impact that they have on our feelings, can change from moment to moment. But the principles of accurate Bible Doctrine do not change and are not dependent on how one feels. The application of Bible Doctrine will often require an advancing disciple to do (or refrain from doing) things (e.g. Matt. 5: 39, 44/Phil. 2: 4 ) that will be inconsistent with how he/she feels at the moment. Following one's heart (feelings) instead of one's edified soul structure is a recipe for disaster if what we feels runs contrary to what God desires.
The challenge of proposed changes comes into view when what is being proposed is new or different from what we have come to expect or support in the past.
Even the most spiritually mature believers among us can have their "cages rattled" when facing the ongoing challenge of building, editing, maintaining, and applying an edified soul structure. There will be times when verses that we have heard or read over and over again will take on a new meaning when presented in a different light. The same verses and passage of Scripture that we have read or heard repeated over and over again will provide us with guidance that we never perceived before.
It can be an eye opening and soul edifying experience to learn that what one had been taught, accepted, and practiced for decades did not come from Scripture, but turned out to be no more than a "tradition of men (Mark 7: 8)" that was erroneously accepted, and practiced as if it had come from God. To a lesser degree, but still upsetting, is to discover that what one had been practicing for decades was the result of a misinterpretation or misapplication of Scripture.
It is one thing to discover the truth, but the question is what is one to do with the truth.
In the movie "A Few Good Men" the actor Jack Nicholson had a few lines that went something like this. " You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
Sad to say, but this is one of the reasons that many born again believers do not choose to venture out "too far" in the realm of discipleship (the study and application of the Word of God). Its much easier to go along, get along, and stay within the comfort/safety zone of "religious" ignorance. Here in the USA, many individuals are obsessed over what they feed and how they exercise their physical bodies that are here today and will be gone tomorrow. Yet, when it comes to what these same folks feed and how they exercise their souls, that are going to around for all of eternity, "good enough" is good enough.
A shortened version of The Serenity Prayer, whose original authorship is attributed by many to Niebuhr, has some good practical advice when dealing with the challenges of proposed change.
"God grant me the the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
Finally, how is one to know when a proposed change in one's doctrine and practice is from God?
To answer this question, I would suggest that one ask himself three questions.
#1: Is the change consistent with what can be substantiated by a correct interpretation and application of Scripture.
#2: Will the change enhance or diminish the quality of my post salvation spiritual life?
If the answers to these questions is yes, the proposed change has come from God.
This completes our study of the Doctrine of Change.
On the other hand, as we will see, change is not always for the better.
"As in all his (the Apostle Paul) letters, speaking in them (his letters) of these things (listed in verses10-15), in which some are hard to understand, which the untaught, and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this (scenario) beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error (false doctrine) of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness (level of spiritual maturity and (stop) moving forward in the plan of God), but (continue) to grow in the (enabling) grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...(2Pet. 3: 16-18 NASB italics mine)"
"But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1: 22 NASB)."
There are many who hear the Word being preached on a regular basis, or read the Bible on a daily basis, but fail to move forward in the plan of God. They are no more spiritually mature than the were, six months, six years, or six decades ago. Spiritual maturity is measured by ones knowledge of Scripture and his/her willingness to consistently apply it.
"For those He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed (changed) to the image of His Son...(Romans : 8:29 MASB italics mine)."
This Romans 8: 29 conformity is speaking of the disciple developing and applying the 1Cor. 2: 16 NASB, "mind (thinking) of Christ (italics mine."
Ongoing change (for the better) is a part of advancing in the post salvation spiritual life, but making the adjustments in doctrine and practice that positive changes require can be challenging.
This is what the parable (Matt. 9: 17/Mark 2: 22 of the new vs. the old wine skins (containers) is all about. The new wine is the true Gospel Message and/or post (after) salvation Bible Doctrine.
The old wine skins represent the soul structures of an individual who has not been born again. Such a soul structure is not only incapable (independent of God) of understanding (Romans 8:7) the Gospel Message and/or Bible Doctrine, it is inherently hostile towards God and the things of God. This submerged hostility can become overt when such individuals are presented with the truth (Matt. 7: 6).
While being hostile towards the truth, the soul structure of a spiritually dead soul is very receptive to all the alternatives that are the products and practices of Man-made religion. Such things appeal to the fallen nature is Man, as they appear to be the means for Man to make and to keep himself "right" with God.
It is when one is born again that his/her formerly dead spirit is regenerated (Titus 3:5) and becomes a new creature(2Cor. 5: 17). The regeneration of this new creation is instantaneous and permanent, but the soul structure needed for the execution of the post salvation spiritual life must then be built on the new foundation (1Cor. 3: 10-12) that is laid when one is born again. Unlike the regeneration, the building (2Pet. 3: 18) and the maintenance (2Cor. 13: 5) of an edified soul structure is not as instantaneous event. It is a life-long process that begins after the foundation has been laid.
Many times there is a period of deconstruction that mus take place, removing all of the alternative concepts of Man-made religion that had previously been made a part of one's soul structure before a soul structure made with sound doctrine can be built. The roots of Man made religion grow long and deep and are not easily removed. The part(s) of our thought processes that are under the influence of human viewpoint are "enemy" held ground that the devil and the forces of evil are not going to give up without a battle.
"There is a way (e.g. religion/human viewpoint) which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Prov. 14: 12 NASB italics mine)."
As long as these ways seem right to a man, there is still hope on the devil's part that he can recover lost ground and influence over the areas of our lives that we have not been conformed to the likeness of Christ. The devil lost the battle for salvation of the soul the moment one is born again, but the destruction of one's post salvation spiritual life is still on the line (1Pet. 5: 8).
The older or more settled one gets in his/her ways (Prov. 14: 12), the willingness and the receptiveness to change becomes more of a challenge. God had much to say about this and provided us with a stern warning in Eccl. 12: 1-7.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days (of labor and sorrow - Psalms 90: 10) come and (the end of ) your years (here on Earth) draw near when you will say, I have no delight in them (days remaining here here on Earth); before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars (night vision) are darkened (one's ability to see and appreciate the blessing of God in the midst of the dark adversity), and clouds (more problems) after the rain (existing adversity); in the day the watchmen of house (ability to defend oneself diminishes) trembles, and (what were) mighty men (then) stoop, the grinding ones (remaining teeth) stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows (eye glasses/ eye sight) grow dim; and the doors of the street are shut (afraid to go leave home) and the sound of grinding mill (labor/outside activity) is low (diminished hearing), and one will arise at the sound of the bird (early rising, diminished sleep), and all the daughters of song will sing softly (inability to hear/enjoy music). Furthermore, men are afraid of (falling from) a high place and terrors (criminality) of the road; the almond tree blossoms (on set of greying hair), (we walk like) a grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry (inducing sexual activity) is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home (Heaven/Hell) while mourners (those we leave behind) go about in the street (continue on with their lives). Remember Him before the silver chord in broken and the golden bowl is crushed (brain failure), the pitcher by the well is shattered (lung failure) )and the wheel at the cistern (the heart) is crushed (symbolic language describing process of physical death); then the dust (decaying/decayed human bodily remains) will return to the Earth as it was (Gen. 3), and the (departed) spirit will return to God (for evaluation (1Cor. 3: 12-15) or judgment (Rev. 20: 15) who gave it (Eccl. 12: 1-7 NASB italics mine.)"
God knows how the devil will use the day to day realities of aging as the means to wear down the saints in the final phase of their post salvation spiritual life. It is for this reason that that God admonishes Man to remember Him BEFORE the "evil" days/circumstances associated with aging become a reality.
In old age, born again believers tend to fall into one of three categories concerning their religious or spiritual beliefs and practices.
Category #1 involves those who continue to do what they have done or have not done for most of their lives. Change at any age is still possible, but change is not something that older souls are very receptive.
Category #2 Involves those who begin or return to religious activity in a last ditch effort to reassure themselves that they have peace with God, and to have the means for his/her final arrangements to be addressed. Don't confuse peace with God with fellowship (2Cor. 13: 14) with God. Peace with God is in view as of the day one is born again, and is permanent in nature. Fellowship with God begins at the moment one is born again, but fellowship is conditional. Fellowship with God is dependent on ongoing confession (1John 1: 9) post (after) salvation sin. The quality of one's fellowship is based on his/her walk with God along the path of the post salvation spiritual life. It is fellowship with God that a wandering born again believer is actually seeking. This can take place at any age.
After death (wakes, funerals, burials) after death arrangements here on Earth do nothing to change either the location or the environment of where the already departed soul has already gone.
Category #3 involves those who do to mental or physical incapacity can no longer begin, continue, or return to the religious/practices that he/she once (or could/should) have entertained. God does NOT hold us accountable for what we can not do, but we are accountable for what we could have done when we did have the opportunity.
Not everyone will experience old age, and those who do will not all experience it the same way.
Some, like David's child (2 Sam. 12) will depart this Earth at a very young age. Some, like the Lord Jesus Christ and John the Baptist will depart this Earth in what human viewpoint would consider to be the prime of one's natural life. Some, like Moses live to be relatively old, and yet do not incur (Deut. 34: 7) most of the negative complications (Eccl. 12: 1-7) commonly associated with old age. Some will experience great and prolonged pain and suffering throughout much of their life span, and/or when passing through the process of death.
The timing, circumstances, location, and the manner of death for each one of us is in accordance with the individual plan and role that God had in mind when He (not our parents (John 3: 6) created our soul and placed us in the body of His choosing that was reproduced by our parents. AS good stewards of the body that God placed us in, we should do all that we can to take of it, but there is no guarantee that such efforts will impact the length or the quality of our lifespan here on Earth. The one thing that we can count on is that when our appointed time of departure arrives, we will in fact be gone.
Each one of us had an appointed time to come into this world (John 3: 6), and each one of us has an appointed time to depart (Heb. 9: 27). Some see it coming, others do not. Some consider such knowledge of our impending departure a blessing, allowing us to put our house (life) in order before we depart. Others would prefer not to know.
God does heal and prevent what we would see as premature death, but no one lives beyond his appointed time, and no departs this world one second sooner than his/her appointed time. Scripture () that the time of our arrival and the time of our departure are in the hands of God. One thing IS for certain, that the moment of our departure will be the most significant change that one will ever experience here on Earth, aside from the moment that he/she was born again.
Those of us who are given a longer life span with more opportunities are accountable for what they did with them. Those who are spiritually mature can see that we have spiritual opportunities ever day. Even if we were only give one a day, that 365 opportunities a year times the total years of our post salvation spiritual life. If, for example, our individual post salvation spiritual life consisted of 60 years, that would be a minimum of 21, 900 "opportunities for which we are going to give an account for to God (Romans 14: 12). If one had ten opportunities each day, one every 2.4 hours each day, that figure would rise to 219,000 opportunities. An opportunity takes place every time we have the door opens for us to worship, interact, and glorify God, and to serve God by serving others. For an edified disciple, there is no sch thing as having nothing to do! No matter where we are or what we are otherwise doing, each day is filled with such opportunities.
Perhaps the most common "911" prayer made to God is for the protection/saving/improving of one's natural life and/or circumstances here on Earth. Such things should be made a matter of prayer, but keep in mind that what we request in prayer is not always what God has in mind for any given individual at any given time.
Otherwise, when God does not come through as we hoped for, we can be tempted to question the value of prayer. The devil is certainly not going to let such an opportunity to pass him by.
One the lessons we learn in such scenarios is that having made the outcome a matter of prayer, we can then conclude that whatever takes place or fails to take place, it is/was was God's will. God's will (and answer to prayer) is expressed by what He does and by what He allows to take place. The challenge we face when things do not go our way is to stand firm in the belief that all things do work out for the best (Romans 8: 28), even when we so much were looking for and/or prayed for a different outcome. We are here to do His will (Luke 22: 42), and NOT the other way around.
Prayer is the means of communication between God and Man. ALL prayer receives an immediate yes, no, or not right now, response in accordance with His will, not ours.
If it were God's intention for fallen Man to live on Earth forever, He would not have prevented man (Gen. 3: 22-24) from retaining access to the the Tree of Life that provided the means for Man to do so.
""Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good from evil; and now, he might stretch our his h and, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever--therefore the Lord God sent him out from the Garden of Eden (where the Tree of life was), to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the Man out; and at the east (side) of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every (approaching) direction to guard the way (prevent access) to the tree of life (Gen. 3: 22-24 NASB)."
Man (and even some of us) would have been happy with that as long as things went our way. But things change, and so do/will we.
His plan does not call for us to live on forever, here in the devil's world (Luke 4: 6). This planet is destined to melt away with intense heat (2Pet. 3: 10) after it has completed is use and part in the plan of God. Besides, God has a better place for us (Rev. 22) in mind.
* * *
The challenges associated with c-h-a-n-g-e, be it for the better or the worse, can leave the soul with unsettled feelings in his/her soul structure until the matter is resolved.
Even secular professionals will concur that mental stress in the result of unresolved issues in the mind.
When proposed changes are in agreement with what we presently think or how we presently feel, change is welcomed. The problem is that unless we are the first individual to have learned all there is to learn and have mastered the art of application, there will always be the ongoing need to make more and more changes in our doctrine and practices if we are to be more and more conformed to the likeness of Christ in thought (1Cor. 2: 16) and action (James 1: 22).
Responding to change in accordance to how we feel can get us into a lot of hot water in our walk with the Lord. The woman, later named Eve, was deceived. As a result, she felt that eating the forbidden fruit was going to improve (Gen. 3: 5) their status and the environment that she shared with Adam. Needless to say, she was dead (Gen. 2: 17) wrong.
Contributing factors of a physiological, psychological, environmental, social, familial, economic, and even a political nature can all impact how we "feel" at any given time. Such things, and the impact that they have on our feelings, can change from moment to moment. But the principles of accurate Bible Doctrine do not change and are not dependent on how one feels. The application of Bible Doctrine will often require an advancing disciple to do (or refrain from doing) things (e.g. Matt. 5: 39, 44/Phil. 2: 4 ) that will be inconsistent with how he/she feels at the moment. Following one's heart (feelings) instead of one's edified soul structure is a recipe for disaster if what we feels runs contrary to what God desires.
The challenge of proposed changes comes into view when what is being proposed is new or different from what we have come to expect or support in the past.
Even the most spiritually mature believers among us can have their "cages rattled" when facing the ongoing challenge of building, editing, maintaining, and applying an edified soul structure. There will be times when verses that we have heard or read over and over again will take on a new meaning when presented in a different light. The same verses and passage of Scripture that we have read or heard repeated over and over again will provide us with guidance that we never perceived before.
It can be an eye opening and soul edifying experience to learn that what one had been taught, accepted, and practiced for decades did not come from Scripture, but turned out to be no more than a "tradition of men (Mark 7: 8)" that was erroneously accepted, and practiced as if it had come from God. To a lesser degree, but still upsetting, is to discover that what one had been practicing for decades was the result of a misinterpretation or misapplication of Scripture.
It is one thing to discover the truth, but the question is what is one to do with the truth.
In the movie "A Few Good Men" the actor Jack Nicholson had a few lines that went something like this. " You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
Sad to say, but this is one of the reasons that many born again believers do not choose to venture out "too far" in the realm of discipleship (the study and application of the Word of God). Its much easier to go along, get along, and stay within the comfort/safety zone of "religious" ignorance. Here in the USA, many individuals are obsessed over what they feed and how they exercise their physical bodies that are here today and will be gone tomorrow. Yet, when it comes to what these same folks feed and how they exercise their souls, that are going to around for all of eternity, "good enough" is good enough.
A shortened version of The Serenity Prayer, whose original authorship is attributed by many to Niebuhr, has some good practical advice when dealing with the challenges of proposed change.
"God grant me the the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
Finally, how is one to know when a proposed change in one's doctrine and practice is from God?
To answer this question, I would suggest that one ask himself three questions.
#1: Is the change consistent with what can be substantiated by a correct interpretation and application of Scripture.
#2: Will the change enhance or diminish the quality of my post salvation spiritual life?
If the answers to these questions is yes, the proposed change has come from God.
This completes our study of the Doctrine of Change.