In almost 45 years of working full-time to see Jesus’ kingdom spread to all peoples and places, one decisive factor I have seen is that believers who engage well cross-culturally have a higher tolerance for change. I’m sure it is a continuum. On one end, some need change in their lives to feel their best, while the other end finds those who love routine and structure.

From our human perspective, we know some change is good. Getting a promotion is good, but may not be what we expected. It is good when a corrupt leader is replaced with a better one, even though no one is perfect. When we go through change, unknowns creep into our minds and can cause fear. When leaders change, those under them have legitimate concerns about the coming changes. This is true with government leaders, at all levels.

There are several ongoing things that have been bringing major changes to the world on a large scale. This disruption has disturbed many people, solidifying opinions and creating polarities. We humans really like the parts of our past that worked for us. We don’t like to change some things, and we keep (or remove) things or people in our lives to create a stabilizing force for our minds and hearts.

Changes have good and bad applications. Batteries lasting longer and longer means we are not tied to unmovable power sources. We can drive electric cars and trucks now. You can fly a drone a long distance with a heavier load. That is great for package delivery I guess, but it is also changing how wars are fought. It has already shifted from how many soldiers you need to be “on the ground,” to how many and how well you use drones. Naturally, that leads to the question of who makes the batteries, as well as the chips and technologies that go into them.

As believers who trust in a sovereign God, we know how things will end. Someday, God will dwell with humanity again (Rev 21:3). Evil will be totally removed and destroyed. But, on the way to that day, we must learn to grapple with changes and adjust our way of life accordingly. Those of us who are older, can be concerned about the future for our families. I confess, sometimes, I just want to be with my grandchildren and savor the time in ways I didn’t even do with my own kids. And, I have no idea how to prepare them—except in issues of faith and scripture.

Broader changes started in the 1980s when we began the “age of personal computers.” That, in turn, moved us from an industrial “powerhouse” to one driven by technology and data. And the processing of data moved from people at desks to computers running software. A good friend of mine worked at IBM in Dallas for a long time. They had more than 300 folks in his building. Over a few years, downsizing and outsourcing meant it dropped to 4-5.
Many people moved from manual jobs that took physical strength or dexterity, to… at times… no work at all. Now, with the advance of robotics, new factories are so automated they will never be places that hire a lot of people. The wealth that came with the computer/software boom helped create a huge service industry—which pays better than factory work. We were happy that people would do those jobs in other places for less money, so the items were cheaper for us!

What has all this to do with the advance of the kingdom?

• As believers with a heart for God’s kingdom advance, we must not sit and wish the past could come back.
• Instead, we can help other believers—around us and perhaps around the world—navigate change for gospel impact.
• Change, and the upheaval it can bring, opens people to the gospel.
• Pray wisely for your family, neighborhood, workplace, local church, and for those you know around the globe.
• Do not fear as some changes impact your lives in ways you don’t like. Fear is the expression of a lack of trust in a sovereign God.
• Many people are open to the truth, so witness (tell your story of faith) from a place of peace.