Resistance to change can be amazingly powerful and is often compared to the physical law of inertia. For example, a person who survives an abusive relationship often chooses to marry an abusive person because that relationship seems “normal.” People resist change for a combination of reasons, including pride, fear, comfort level, laziness, and our carnal natures of hostility to God and His laws and all authority (Romans 8:7). We also are creatures of habit, especially habits formed in childhood (and that is good when the habits are good habits). The Feast of Unleavened Bread emphasizes repentance and overcoming. Repentance has two primary facets—godly sorrow plus change—change from sin to godliness.
While most people will accept a few new ideas, most are not willing to make all the belief and lifestyle changes that God requires. This is illustrated by Jesus’ parable in Luke 5:37-39. In verse 39, Jesus said, “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’” Incredibly, many liberated Israelites wanted to return to Egypt! Many changes are merely conforming while the people’s minds and hearts are still wrongly programmed. This largely explains why so many people will follow Satan at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-10). The ultimate solution? Instead of merely conforming, we must become spiritually converted and continue to grow spiritually!
Don Hooser is a minister for the United Church of God. He lives in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He and his wife Elsie had three children, and she died in August 2020. Don married Judy in January 2022. Mr. Hooser graduated in 1963 from Southern Methodist University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and graduated in 1966 from Ambassador College, Big Sandy, Texas. For most of the time since then, he served as the pastor of churches in Ohio, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. From 2011 until his retirement in 2021, his primary responsibility was answering the many letters written to the Church.
