This is a statement we heard man times during our past election. The American people were convinced that what we had was not good enough or that we were in need of something different. By the vote I would say that the majority of the American people wanted a change. With the economy the way it is and the war that so many have been so much against, they said we want a change. Whether they got the right person for the change they were looking for remains to be seen. Regardless of what happens in the political field, I say, "IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE."

    It is time we think of what pleases the Lord instead of what pleases ourselves. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Sine He loved us so much we ought to love Him in return. Oh, you say, I do love Him! Do you really? John 14:15 Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Again He said in John 15:14 "Ye are my friend, if ye do whatsoever I command you." It is not the nature of men to keep the commandments of God. Everyone wants to do it his way instead of the Lord’s way. Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me."

    When Jesus came up out of the water, after being baptized, Matthew 3:16,17 "And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Again God spoke in this fashion of His Son in Matthew 17:5 when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elijah appeared with them. Peter suggested they make three tabernacles, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (v. 5) "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." How important is it for us to hear this man? Acts 3:22,23 "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."

    This Jesus (that Prophet) said to His apostles in Matthew 28:19,20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Are we willing to listen to what that Prophet says? Do I reason with myself that baptism isn’t very important? Do I ask what power there is in the water to take away sins? If so, let me answer that question this way. In 2 Kings 5 the story is told of an honorable man by the name of Naaman. This man had a dreaded disease called leprosy. He was told if he would go to the prophet of God in Samaria, the prophet could heal him. Needless to say, since there was no cure available through doctors, he made his way to the prophet. When he got there the prophet sent his servant out to Naaman and told him to go dip seven times in the river Jordan and he would be healed. Naaman went away in a rage. Maybe he was asking what power does the water of the Jordan River have to take away leprosy? Maybe he said that is just too simple, it couldn’t work. Naaman’s servant came and said, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you have done it? How much rather then when he said to you, wash, and be clean? Naaman went and did what the prophet had said and his leprosy was healed. Now I ask you, what was in the water to wash away sin? Nothing, whatsoever. Naaman was healed when he did what the Lord said for him to do. It just so happens that the Lord chose baptism to way away our sins, and when I am baptized as the Lord tells me to do, my sins are washed away.

    If I believe the Lord, then I will do what He tells me to do. I must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and be willing to obey Him or I cannot make it to heaven. Jesus said in John 8:21 "I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins; Whether I go ye cannot come." We are told that sin separates us from God. Again Jesus said in John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Unless we are obedient to His will, we shall die in our sins and, if we die in our sins, we cannot be where the Lord is!

    Now you see why I say "IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE"? A change from disobedience to obedience. A time to do what the Lord says instead of doing our own thing. Time to think more on spiritual things and less on material things. A time to think more of how I can please God instead of how I can please myself. A time to spend more time laying up treasure in heaven instead of so much time trying to lay up treasure here on earth. Time to look for more reasons to attend worship and be faithful to the Lord instead of looking for excuses to miss the assembly. May God help us to make the change necessary in our lives to please Him!

—Bobby Robinson