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In 1993, country music artist Patty Loveless recorded a song about life changes. The chorus passes on words of wisdom: "Mama whispered softly, 'Time will ease your pain; life's about changin', nothin' ever stays the same.' " It is an emotional song because it strikes at the need for things to remain constant in our lives. Even if we like adventure, there are certain things that remain unchanged in our existence.
As I have pondered leavings over the past few weeks, I have thought a lot about Moses. There was so much that he had gone through in his life with the people of God. God had worked through him to petition the Pharaoh for the Israelites’ release from slavery, led the people across the Red Sea, and then, for forty years, through the wilderness. During the journey, at a place called Kadesh, Moses in anger took credit for God’s action of giving water to the people. Right then he was barred from entering the Promised Land. So, at 120 years old, Moses stood with God on Mount Nebo. God showed him the Promised Land that the people would dwell in without Moses, and there he died.
Having spent over forty years with the people, Moses had to say goodbye. The Israelites stepped into the next chapter of God’s story without his presence or leadership. That chapter and the ones to follow were marked by both joys and sorrows, war and peace. In each subsequent chapter, though, God remained faithful to them.
It would be sad if the story ended here, but it doesn’t. Nearly a millennium and a half later, on a mountain in Galilee, we find Peter, James, and John witnessing a conversation between Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. Although Moses had to say goodbye to the people of God, God did not forsake him. On a mountain before Peter, James, and John, a glorified Moses stood in the Promised Land talking about the Exodus with Jesus and Elijah. This Exodus would not be from Pharaoh, but from sin, death, and the Devil — God’s promise ringing true across all time.
The close of the chorus of Patty Loveless’ 1993 hit says that nothing ever stays the same. In some ways, that is true. In this world things change. We change schools and homes, jobs and activities. We are born, and we die. Though these things trouble us, there is one thing that remains constant: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
As I have pondered leavings over the last few weeks, the full range of emotions has flooded through my heart and mind. It is hard to feel peaceful in the midst of a roller coaster of emotions. It is hard to feel peace, but not impossible. In the upper room, Jesus reminded His disciples where true peace comes from, whether the day is easy or hard. "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
By the blood of Christ on the cross, God has reconciled us to Himself. We now have peace with God through Christ (Rom. 5:1). That peace means that for those in Christ, though leavings are hard, there is a Day when there will be no more leavings. When Christ returns in glory, we will step into the Wedding Feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom that never ends. So, as you step into this new chapter of ministry at St. Paul’s, I am not saying "goodbye." It's "see you later!"
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