The Incredible Inevitable Change

11/11/07 15:56
Life is full of it. No one can stop it. God, who changes not, has ordained it –it cannot be otherwise. There is nothing in a man’s life that is more inevitable than change. Man begins change at the moment of conception and at the inception of life. He changes physically within the womb and his body continues to change long after his spirit leaves the body. Man changes physically, mentally and emotionally. The decisions that we make change our personality and our personality changes our character. If change is inevitable, and cannot be stopped, then it would be to our best welfare, to use change for our advantage. For instance, Fanny Crosby was born a healthy girl back in 1820. Yet, while she was still a baby she developed an eye infection. An incompetent doctor applied a salve to her swollen eyes that blinded her for life! At that moment her life changed. A few months later her father died and her mother had to go to work to provide for the family. So, Fanny was raised by her grandmother for most of her life –another change. Even though these changes were beyond her control, Fanny would not let these changes determine the kind of person that she would be. She would eventually give her heart to Jesus Christ and allow him to change her heart and mold her life. She would be the most prolific writer and poetess America would know. She wrote over 8000 hymns and many poems. Once she was asked about her blindness and this is what she said: “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me…If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind… for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour!” This is profound! This is amazing. This is fortitude and this is character. What a blessing it would have been to have lived in association with this woman! But you know what? I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone who has been changed by the grace of God. God changes us for the good and in His wise Providence, He allows circumstances that will give us opportunities for that change. Just a side note here; do you see how the character of the people in our nation has changed over the last two centuries? If what happened to Fanny back in the early 19th century would have happened in this day and age, the family would have probably sued for malpractice and felt that “life owed them.” Have you ever been around those kinds of people –pleasant isn’t it? Listen to what Fanny wrote when she was just eight years old!

Oh what a happy child I am, although I cannot see
I am resolved that in this world contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t
So weep and sigh because I am blind, I cannot –nor I won’t!

Incredible! Eight years of age and she showed more courage and fortitude than many adults do today. I pray that God gives us the grace to see the changes that are taking place in our lives and that we freely allow Him to change us for our good.

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