A real change, or a different kind of same?

The new president, Barack Obama, was swept into power, some say, on little more than a promise to make changes in the status quo of government and society. Whether he can actually govern in a way to bring such change is now the challenge he must face and demonstrate to both his followers and his critics. Either way, his supporters will likely feel it's better than where we've been. His critics, meanwhile, will watch to see if his promises were more than political passion and eloquence.

But just how much real change can there be in a governmental system like ours? Some have been tossing out the "S" word (Socialism) to describe how they see the proposed changes in the tax code, as if to say that would be too much change for their tastes. And a new movement of civil benefits legislation wouldn't exactly be a change from previous administrations dating back to Roosevelt and several others. President Obama would have a hard time keeping up with the flurry of welfare bills sped through Congress by LBJ, at least until Vietnam consumed his attention.

Whether Democrat or Republican, the stated purposes of elected officials has been to bring benefit to the American people, to improve their daily lives and spread the rights of our Constitution to as many as possible. As to how that may best be done, there's the difference between them. And it always seems that each side accuses the other of being wrong-headed in their respective methods. But is either method a real change, or just a different kind of same?

A real change would be to alter the landscape of human endeavor altogether, to one centered on God's plan for humanity, instead of one focused on material and social goals entirely of this world's making. As long as mankind's objectives are aimed at a more satisfying life for men, there will be endless arguments about just what that means and how to get there. But if we were to take our cue from our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ, we would realize there's a lot more to life than living.

There will be a new man in the White House come next January 20th, but, I'm grateful to remember, there will be still be the same God on the throne of the universe. And someday, when God has decided to bring that "new heaven and new earth" He's promised to those who trust and obey Him, now that will be a change we can believe in!