Transition

I thought about giving these thoughts the title “Disruption”. “Transition” sounds much more positive, doesn’t it? But anytime there’s a transition, there’s going to be disruption. There are a handful of important transitions recorded in scripture, and all of them are disruptive.

The form of government called “theocrasy” conjures up some very negative associations in our modern minds. Literally, however, the term means “governed by God”, and that’s exactly the situation Israel lived in under the Judges. But the people of Israel clamored for a king instead. They brought their demand to the priest/judge Samuel, and he brought it to God. God’s response was, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7)

The theocrasy that God intended would have been righteous, just, and effective. But seldom did it look like that in actuality. The book of Judges details how Israel, over and over, corrupted and abandoned what God intended. Now the demand was for a king, and God went on in his answer to Samuel, “Obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (verse 9)

So Samuel oversaw the transition from theocrasy to monarchy. He did, as God commanded, tell them how disruptive it would be. (verses 10-18) God let them have the kind of king they demanded—and King Saul proved to be a disaster on both a personal and a national level.

Much later, another transitional figure arose – John the Baptist. This time the transition was initiated by God, but once again there was a lot of resistance to doing things God’s way. John, who was a priest, began the transition from the Levitical priesthood to the high priesthood of Messiah.

The writer to the Hebrews lays out the new priesthood:

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:5-6)

This transition would turn out to be wonderful for us. Which goes to show how much better it is for God to initiate a transition.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

As always, this transition would be disruptive. John himself said, “He must increase but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) That decrease encompassed the entire Aaronic priesthood, not just himself, as the Hebrews writer explains:

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. (Hebrews 7:11-12)

What’s my point in going into all this? There’s another transition described in the Bible, a personal transition. It’s put in many different ways. A few samples:

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6:6)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Is this transition disruptive? You bet it is! It changes everything. At least it’s supposed to.

The scriptures set examples before us. Like Israel, we sometimes try to initiate changes to suit our desires. This inevitably leads to disaster. But there are other disruptive transitions initiated by God, for our benefit. These we need to not merely accept, but embrace, even though they are hard. Fortunately we have a great High Priest to help.

Love, Paul