We should never stop changing – till our last breath – into the likeness of Christ.

Change means risks. Our human nature dislikes changes and taking risks. Because of this we risk spiritual stagnation.

Example: Recent research into Alzheimer’s disease has shown that patients who are stimulated with changes around them (gentle but challenging) are likely to experience a slowing down of the disease.

The temptation is to settle down and not face the trials and temptations of life.

Let this beginning of the New Year of 2004 be a time where you are prepared for change.

We will look at Israel during their time of change and examine some lessons, including risks:

The Israelites had spent 400 years in Egypt before they were led to the promised land.

In leaving they had to risk the danger of Pharaoh’s anger and what he could do to hurt them. So too, in breaking from sin and leaving the devil’s grip there is a feeling of risk.

Being born is full of risk – in fact, there is death involved in the birth process. The child has to leave the comfort of its surroundings and enter the world. Perhaps you too have grown accustomed to things and fear any change. But unless you’re willing to die, to be born again, you will never live. There is a medical phenomenon with some births called a “mummified foetus”. It means that though the baby was there it never went through the process of birth and was still-born. Perhaps it seems like death to you when God speaks of the repentance and apologies which are necessary. If you don’t have the courage to go through with God, perhaps being afraid of being tagged, you try and deal with problems yourself and not bring them to the Lord and God’s people for real help. Perhaps you chat to a friend and the rub-off effect on that friend is deadly. Sin in you is like nuclear waste. You can’t just dump it because it continues to radiate its deadly effects. Rather, come to Christ, the Son of God because He can deal with the filth, the nuclear waste in your heart. By coming to Him, you are born anew and can, like a newborn child, wake up in the arms of a loving and smiling mother.

The poem “Risks” by a secular poet:

The other risk which the Israelites had to face was where to get food. They needed daily manna to be sustained in the wilderness. Be willing to take risks when God leads you, even if it means losing your job because of honesty – the Lord will provide your daily manna.

If you don’t risk anything it means you are lukewarm and you run the greatest risk – that of Christ spewing you out!

If you don’t risk anything you will do nothing and achieve nothing. You should always be experiencing change: more holiness, more humilty, more of the Lord. You will run the risk of making mistakes. These can be repented of. But if you stop growing you will not survive.

As we read in our text the attempt to hang on to the manna only resulted in maggots and a stench. Never hold on to God’s gifts (instead of clinging to Him)  because it will end up as a stink. This also includes the danger of working for God and the ministry He has given. All these things must remain on the altar. God’s children had to rest on the Sabbath and the Lord provided manna for that day because the Lord ensured that the manna would last for the next day.

Are you living in anxiety? God told His people not to be anxious but to trust Him to supply their need. They had to do it God’s way. They had to learn when to relax and rest. If you feel a compulsion to have to do something, when the Lord wants you to rest, it shows that it is the devil. Some Christians are forever busy with some new project instead of receiving bread from God. Who is this bread? It is the One whose birth we’ve just celebrated this Christmas.

Remember that “the manna melted” – it didn’t last long. Use the grace which He gives you today. Don’t be like the 5 foolish virgins who didn’t get their provisions while it was possible.