Changing Times and Unchanging Thirst
The sermon highlights the unchanging quality of human nature, despite the many changes in society and technology.
A.W. Tozer reflects on the paradox of changing times and the unchanging nature of humanity, emphasizing that despite the advancements in civilization, the core of human nature remains constant. He illustrates this point by contrasting the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth with the modern world, highlighting that while technology and society evolve, the fundamental human thirst for meaning and connection persists. Tozer suggests that this unchanging thirst is most evident during Christmas, a time that reminds us of our enduring needs and the simplicity of Christ's arrival.
Text
There is a well-known saying which I think originated with the French, that the more things change the more they remain the same.
The wisdom of this saying may be seen in almost every department of human life, the reason probably being that of all the things that change and still remain unchanged, there is no better example than human nature itself.
And when do we see the unchanging quality of human nature more perfectly than at Christmas-time? Consider the radical difference between today's world and the world into which the Baby Jesus was born. Compared with our twentieth-century civilization, everything surrounding the wondrous Child was crude and primitive. Jesus was born in a stable, not in a hospital; His mother was attended by a midwife, not by a skilled scientist; His baby face was lighted by a tallow candle, not by an electric bulb; He traveled into Egypt on the back of the lowly burro, not by auto or streamlined train.
Sermon Outline
- Human Nature Remains Unchanged
- The more things change, the more they remain the same
- Human nature is a constant in an ever-changing world
Key Quotes
“The more things change, the more they remain the same.” — A.W. Tozer
“He traveled into Egypt on the back of the lowly burro, not by auto or streamlined train.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that human nature remains unchanged, and that the same desires and weaknesses that have always existed still drive people today.
- Be mindful of the many changes in society and technology, and how they can affect our perspective on the world and our place in it.