immutable

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

A few years ago, my Bible Study Girls were asked to create a faith growth chart. We were to mark where we thought our faith was at say 5-10 years ago and then where it was at the time of the study. As we shared our charts it was great to see that all of us felt we had grown in our faith lives. We also all showed times where we plateaued. As Christians, we call this being sanctified by God. We were justified with God when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are currently being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. And one day we will be glorified when we see Christ again. That’s Christian growth.

Our lives, believers or not, are filled with changes. Changes in our bodies, beliefs, relationships, financial situations and more. We are reflections of all of God’s creations – we are born, we live and one day we die. Returned to the dust. In this way we are wholly divergent from our Creator. A Creator who is immutable, never changing.

“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” Psalm 102:25-27

Progressive Teaching vs Biblical Teaching

Liberal thinking, in politics, religion and society, is that everything changes. Everything grows above and beyond yesteryear. That thinking gives us “progressivism.” Liberal pastors and bible teachers believe the Bible is a dusty book with old fashioned rules and ways of living. They pick and choose what us “modern believers” should follow as we become more advanced. But in holding to that interpretation they also have to believe that God is ever changing. Which the Bible makes clear He is not.

God doesn’t change His mind. Why? Because He is omnipotent and therefore already had all the information needed to form His thoughts. God doesn’t seek to improve because that implies He wasn’t perfect to begin with. God doesn’t have a growth chart – He is beyond time.

“The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” Isaiah 40:10

So while King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3 accurately shows there’s a season for everything — life and death, joy and sadness, and a time to be born and a time to die — God does not exist by those constraints. And for that we should be eternally grateful.

A Steady Hand

For much of my life I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. In other words, when things were good, I just knew they’d take a turn for the worse. Unfortunately, when things were bad I just figured they’d also get worse. As my faith chart has soared, I can rest in the truths of God’s Word. He has a plan for us for all eternity, and it is good. He won’t pull a rug out from under me. He is the Rock I can count on. His truth is something to which we can hold fast. Let’s remember the words written about 3,000 years ago: “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Ps 100:5)

We look around us and can believe things seem so much worse than “before.” We look in the mirror and see new lines and wrinkles. The seasons outside our windows come and go. Instead of despair we can look to the immutable God and see a steady hand guiding us to something better. A hope that we should pray all those whom we love would have. We build our life on His steady hill so as storms come and go, we are not rocked or defeated.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Friends, His Word is true, good and never changing. While culture may have been different in biblical times, man’s propensity to sin carries on for thousands upon thousands of years. There’s scripture that says something like, nothing has happened to you that hasn’t happened already to someone else. It’s good to remember that because then we can look to God and see just how He has always wanted the situation resolved. The answers were carved in stone, then papyrus, then on a printing press, and now in our hearts. The same words of the Old Testament were read by Jesus. And His words by believers almost 2,000 years ago.

We don’t need a “new word” or a shiny new god. We need to rest in and believe the everlasting, unchanging God who rules the world with wisdom, grace and justice.

Everlasting (Psalm 90) by Sovereign Grace Music

O God, before the mountains were brought forth
Or days of spring and summer filled the earth
From everlasting, You are God

We dwell beneath the stars in ancient skies
A thousand years are nothing in Your sight
From everlasting, You are God

And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting God

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For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

Last night I woke up around 12:30 a.m. That’s not unusual for me or apparently most of my friends. As we have gotten older, a complete night’s sleep seems elusive for us. But last night when I awoke it wasn’t a bathroom run that was needed. No, when I am in writing mode I find myself thinking on God almost 24/7 — not necessarily a bad thing.

As a laid there contemplating various post themes my mind became a jumbled mess. So I decided to employ my “back to sleep” technique I began a few years ago. It’s based on the children’s song B.I.N.G.O. and Psalm 46:10 — Be still and know that I am God. It’s a meditative method to focus my mind. You first repeat the psalm’s line a few times until you visualize only those words. Then you begin the B.I.N.G.O. part which goes like this:

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know that I.

Be still and know that.

Be still and know.

Be still and.

Be still.

Be.

Repeat over and over picturing each word. Next thing you know it’s morning! But here’s what happened last night. As I began repeating this psalm a thought struck me. How is it that knowing God helps me to be still? What about Him brings peace to my mind, soul and heart? And wouldn’t you know, the Holy Spirit said, “Yes! You finally got what I’ve been trying to tell you!” (I love when He does that)

By knowing his name is also meant an experimental acquaintance with the attributes of God, which are everyone of them anchors to hold the soul from drifting in seasons of peril.
Charles Spurgeon on the attributes of God

Omnipotent God: Almighty, having unlimited authority and influence.

What I love about this God is He can move mountains. He can set the world back into order. He performs miracles the world couldn’t even imagine. God the King, the Lord of Lords – it’s who we press our faces to the ground in submission as we seek His grace and deliverance. It’s who we offer the only true gift we have, ourselves, as we approach His throne.

Omnipresent God: Present in all places at all times.

I know a number of people who feel God’s presence constantly. One woman, in her early 80s, told me He is always with her, like a friend. She talks with Him throughout her day. He guides her with gentle touches. He comforts her. He is never far from her because she sees Him all around her – in nature, in people, in animals and in the every day. The wonderful thing about this God is He never forgets me. I am never lost. He always knows where I am because I am always with Him.

Omniscient God: Possessed of universal and complete knowledge.

My friend Betsy trusts God completely. That’s because she knows God has a plan. She knows deep in her heart that all things do truly work for our good and somehow, someday her prayers will be answered. This omniscient God is above our thoughts. He knows what we truly need, even when we think we know better. This is the God who sent His son to teach us His ways because He knew we needed someone who had a “human experience” yet was without blemish. Jesus intimately knows man’s ways and God’s ways. God knows the ultimate outcomes.

Immutable God: Not subject or susceptible to change.

Our lives seem every changing. We age, our families grow, jobs come and go, our health can change in an instant. Governments flip and loyalties dissolve. But God never changes. He is the same loving Creator who made us in His image and planted us on this earth. He didn’t change when Jesus came. Jesus was the next step in God’s plan to bring us back into righteousness for our eternal home. He won’t abandon us or forget about us. While our faith may wax and wane, His never will. He is ever faithful.

Infallible God: Incapable of erring or failing.

God’s Holy Word — the Bible — is inerrant. It has no errors. If we humans think there is a mistake or a contradiction it’s because we’ve brought or own interpretation to the text. Knowing that God is infallible is important because when we think He’s made a mistake it should cause us to seek Him and talk with Him in prayer. It should make us question our own motives, feelings or ways. When I have looked in the mirror with self-hatred I’m reminded that God loves me and finds me beautiful — and He never lies. When He asks us to take an uncomfortable step out in faith we must remember He has His reasons for doing so.

There is no one in our lives that can match the ways of God. He is our faithful and trustworthy partner in life. He is the father we can rest our weary heads upon. He is the King to whom we give all glory and honor to because He is our protector and our victor. The knowledge of all that is God allows us to rest each day and night in peace.

Soli Deo Gloria. Amen

Tag: immutable

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