In this week’s Sabbath Thought, I would like to reflect on a flash from the past. The topic came to mind as I listened to a 1971 song by Graham Nash entitled, Chicago|We Can Change the World.
The song focuses on the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the trial of the Chicago Eight who were accused of inciting the rioting that took place at that time.
So your brother's bound and gagged
And they've chained him to a chair
Won't you please come to Chicago just to sing?
In a land that's known as freedom
How can such a thing be fair?
Won't you please come to Chicago for the help that we can bring?
The first stanza addresses one of the accused inciters of riot being bound and gagged because of repeated outbursts during the trial. This was considered to be an act of brutality incompatible with “a land that’s known as freedom.”
The call is then issued for all who disagree with such actions by the government to come to Chicago to turn the world around. The belief in the betterment of the world through man’s concerted efforts is expressed in the chorus:
We can change the world
Rearrange the world
It's dying
To get better
Yes, we can change the world
(Rearrange) Rearrange the world (It's dying)
If you believe in justice (It's dying)
And if you believe in freedom (It's dying)
Let a man live his own life (It's dying)
Rules and regulations, who needs them?
Open up the door
When I heard this song, I was moved by its message of bringing a change to the world. Even prior to coming into the knowledge of the truth, I knew the world had some serious problems. However, being ignorant of the reality of human nature (Romans 8:6-8), I did not realize that changing the world was only a fantasy.
Men can have high-minded ideals about bringing changes to the world, but how have those efforts of worked out? If you examine the history of the various revolutions of the 20th century—the Bolshevik overthrow of the czar; Mao Tse Tung’s rise in China, Pol Pot in Cambodia—the death toll and suffering is immense.
Even if one examines the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States, what is its condition in 2016? Our nation has lost its way morally and financially and we are not going to turn it around.
The bottom line is that apart from God nothing is going to change for the better. Man cannot through his own mind and ability change himself or the world.
Thankfully, our God is fully aware of the world’s horrible condition and it is His desire to change the world from top to bottom. In fact, God is already on the job of changing the world as He works with the firstfruits of salvation to create His Holy righteous character in those whom He has called.
God has called us to keep the Holy Days of the seventh month to impress upon us that the coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saints to eternal life, the binding of Satan, the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ, and resurrection of all who have never known God or His plan of salvation is right
on course. Everything related to these days will be played out in the near future.
It is in that time, as God powerfully intervenes in this world, that our dying world will be changed permanently for the better.
The knowledge of the playing out of God’s plan is a perfect focal point as we enjoy God’s Sabbath day and look forward to the Holy Days ahead.
Good Sabbath to all!
Gary Smith
