On January 1st of this year we entered a new decade, and, as I watched the Hogmanay Party fireworks lighting up the Edinburgh skyline, I wondered what changes the next few years would bring.
Our world is changing more and more rapidly. 10 years ago, for example, people didn’t take ‘selfies’ on mobile phones, they used digital cameras. 10 years ago there were no ipads, people watched DVDs rather than Netflicks, very few people used their phone to book an Uber, and Airbnb hadn’t been dreamt of.
10 years ago climate change was something other people were concerned about, and most people didn’t worry all that much about how to dispose of their plastic packaging. 10 years ago I hadn’t heard of electric bikes, and had no idea what a difference one would make to my life.
One of the biggest changes so far this year, however, will already have occurred by the time you read this. Because, at the end of January 2020, we will already have left the European Union. Whether we wanted this to happen or not, it will have an impact on our way of life. Some of the changes will be fairly immediate, while others will happen a lot more gradually. Whatever happens, I wonder what things will look like in 10 years time?
In the midst of rapid change it’s easy to lose our bearings. Who can we really believe, what can we put our trust in, and how do we know the right thing to do? When faced with these questions I always fall back on a verse from the Bible which reminds me that in a rapidly changing world there are certain things that will always remain constant. It’s from Hebrews 13.8 and it says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Here’s a verse from a song* we’ve been singing a lot at LK recently. If ever you find yourself worrying about what the future holds, it might be worth remembering these words…
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name”
(*”10,000 reasons”, by Matt Redmond)