Do you remember Dan Quayle, Rodney King, or Dr Jack Kevorkian? The incoming college class of 2014 doesn’t. In fact, if you ask the average freshman, probably born in 1992, he or she will tell you Clint Eastwood is a director of sensitive and insightful films, the .44 Magnum-toting “Dirty Harry” series having ended in 1988. Mention the name Fergie to this post-millennial group, and a singer, not a princess, will come to mind. What is more amazing is that this group finds email far too slow and very few wear wrist watches or write in cursive, most written communication being done on a keyboard. All this is part of the annual “Mindset” list published by Beloit College in Wisconsin as a reference for interacting with new scholars entering college life.
While entertaining and interesting reading, I don’t think any of us need to be reminded how fast the world is changing. According to the encyclopedic website WikiAnswers.com, over the past 100 years knowledge has grown exponentially. What this means is that by 1920, information from 1900 had doubled. From 1920, what we knew increased 100% by1930. Human science and technology once again multiplied by two during the period 1930-1935, and so forth. Given that formula, the total knowledge base of humanity would now double several times per year, according to some experts. If this information is even remotely accurate, the pace of change will only increase. So what are those of us who are still amazed by fax machines supposed to do?
When in doubt, read the instructions. Our Bible tells us that we worship and serve an eternal God. In Malachi 3:6, speaking through His prophet, God tells us: "I the LORD do not change.” We’re reminded of this in the chorus of one of our praise songs: “Holy, Holy, Holy is The Lord, God Almighty. Who was and is and is to come.”
At the same time, we worship and serve a God who is the ultimate agent of change. After all, creating a universe where there once was a void involves a great deal of expansion and change. God’s detailed plan of salvation, which began as humans left the garden and culminated with the Resurrection of Jesus, is the greatest change our race ever will witness.
Turning to God’s own “reference manual,” the book of Daniel tells us there is a place for us in God’s ultimate plans and resulting changes: Daniel 2:21 reads: “He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” With the rate of change and expansion of knowledge, we, as individuals, will never “catch up.” And while we may never know all we want to know, God will give us the knowledge and wisdom we need to see us through and fulfill His purposes for us.
Some things never change, like the excitement of back to school, be it the first day of kindergarten, or sending one’s child across the miles to college. So let’s pray for our children as they continue to grow and learn and prosper. May His grace, wisdom and discernment follow them now and for all their days.
Shalom,
Tim
